The three methods of dispute resolution are mediation, arbitration, and ______.

The correct answer is litigation. This answer is appropriate because the three primary methods of dispute resolution include mediation, arbitration, and litigation as they each serve distinct but essential functions in resolving conflicts.

Mediation involves a neutral third party helping the disputing parties reach a voluntary agreement. Arbitration, on the other hand, also involves a third party but differs in that the arbitrator makes a binding decision based on the evidence and arguments presented. Litigation is the formal process of resolving disputes through the court system, where a judge (and possibly a jury) will make a final and binding decision based on the law and the facts presented.

While negotiation, facilitation, and consultation are important components within the spectrum of resolving conflicts, they do not fit as the standard methods of formal dispute resolution in the same way that litigation does. Negotiation typically occurs directly between the parties without third-party intervention, facilitation helps make a conversation smoother but does not necessarily resolve disputes in a formal context, and consultation is usually about seeking advice rather than resolving a conflict.

Thus, litigation completes the trio of widely recognized structured approaches to resolving disputes alongside mediation and arbitration.