Bullying: How Can We Fight Against it?

Abstract Introduction Statement of Problem Literature Review (Pros/Cons, Theorists/ Instructional

Strategies) Statement of Hypothesis Method/Instruments Research Design Threats to Internal/External Validity Data Pre/Post Test Results Correlations Bell Curve Discussions/Implication Student Reflections References

Table of Contents

Abstract

The study examined the impact of participation in anti-bullying intervention. The chosen sample group comprised of 27 general education students. A research design, intervention model and dramatic role play was utilized. Analysis of quantitative- data showed that anti-bullying intervention impacted the decrease in class-based bullying. The student focus group resulted in three themes which included 1) exposure to a program, 2) participation in a program through class discussion and group work, and 3) student civility. Sample group’s test results and implications are discussed

Bullying has been around for years, but it has never been taken to the extreme as it has today

According to Berthold & Hoover, Slee, Walker, Ramsey & Gresham, “ targets of bullying may suffer greatly in terms of their social and emotional well-being, become anxious, and depressed, isolate themselves from peer groups, and avoid school for fear of being bullied” (in Integrating Bullying Prevention Into School-wide Positive Behavior Support, p.48)

With the help of school-based intervention programs, the frequency of bullying has the ability to be minimized greatly

Many theorists and practioners believe programs have already been put in place to intervene bullying, but too many tragedies are still occurring; so there needs to be more of an effective intervention

Bullying has and will be a problem in this world if school-based intervention programs are not effectively put into place

Schools have not done their best to work towards eliminating this problem because we hear about new tragedies so frequently

Tragedies include suicides, depression, long and short term health effects

Unawareness is the main problem

According to Limber & Nation 2003, “not only does bullying harm both its intended victims and its perpetrators, it also may affect the climate of schools and, indirectly, the ability of all students to learn to the best of their abilities.” (p.1)    

Review of Literature:

All of these sources include pros of intervention and how it will benefit schools to prevent bullying.

In the article “Integrating Bullying Prevention into School-wide Positive Behavior Support”, Simonsen mentions how consequences for bullying needs to be more severe. In addition, he mentions how students respond most to intervention with integrity (Good, McIntosh & Geitz, 2011)

In the article “Understanding and Dealing with Bullying in Schools”, Smokowski & Kopasz mention strategies that were proven to transform the school climate like reaching out to victims, set clear consequences and enforce them, supervise students during breaks, engage students in activities related to bullying and create community action teams. (Yerger & Gehret, 2011)

Young & Ward talk about incorporating literature into teaching anti-bullying . (Young & Ward, 2011)

Review of Literature:

Theorists include Dr. Dan Olweus, Maria Montessori, Susan Limber, Maury Nation & Tonja Nansel that believe anti-bullying programs would decrease bullying in schools

Olweus believes there are two true preventive approaches to bullying: a) teaching all students the skills needed without bullying b) changing aspects of school culture. (Limber & Nation, 2003)

Limber & Nation believe that adopting comprehensive approaches to reduce bullying will change students’ behavior and attitudes giving teachers the willingness to intervene. (Limber & Nation, 2003)

Nansel feels that bullying needs serious attention for future research and preventative actions (Nansel, Overpeck, Phila, Ruan, Morton-Simons & Scheidt, 2001)

Montessori has a character education model that should be incorporated at an early age to instill important values of good character that will decrease bullying behavior. (Lombardi, 2010)

Review of Literature

According to the World Health Organization in 1992, “anti-bullying interventions are promoted via the Health Promoting Schools Frame particularly in Europe.”

Instructional strategies have been put in place that include school-wide interventions including School-Wide Positive Behavior Support (SWPBS), The Bullying Prevention in Positive Behavior Support (BP-PBS), and The Social Skills Group Intervention (S.S. GRIN) These programs have an overall goal to promote positive social and learning environments. These also focus on the students outcomes of bullying, social relations and safety. (Good & McIntosh, 2011)

Instructional strategies are world-wide which include countries like Italy, Canada, England, etc. (Ferguson, San Miguel & Kilburn, 2007 )

Character Education has been put in place to teach respect, morality and values (Berkowitz & Bier, 2005).

Integrating anti-bullying lessons and character education over a five-week period once a week 90 minutes a day with 27 third grade students at P.S. X in Brooklyn, New York will decrease anti-social behavior and increase student civility. This will be measured by integrating role play into the lessons.

Participants 27 3rd grade gifted students (ethnicity: 26 African Americans and 1

Asian) 1 Teacher 1 Principle

Instruments Consent forms Parent Survey Student Survey Pre-test Post-test Student-made performance skits Checklist during Role Play Performance Bullying Incident Reports Class Bullying Reports Bar Graph Role Play Rubric

Research Design: Pre-Experimental ◦ One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design◦ Symbolic Design: OXO◦ Single group is pretested (O), exposed to a treatment (X), and post tested

(O).◦ The same treatment will be given to one group once a week for four weeks

two periods a day. -- Students will be split up into 5 groups of 4 and 5 for the cumulative

assignment to perform dramatic role play

Selection-Maturation Interaction Pre-Test Treatment Specificity of Variables Experimenter Effects

External Validity Internal Validity History Maturation Testing/Pre-test Sensitization Instrumentation Mortality Differential Selection of Subjects

Research Design/ Threats to Validity

Procedure

Pre-Test Administration

Bullying Instruction (5 weeks, once a week)Read AloudsClass Work Activities (making lists, making a bar graph)StrategiesOpen Discussion

Role Play Rehearsal 5 groups of 4 or 5Assign group jobs (leader, reporter, errand monitor, time keeper, presenter)

Role Play Performance Rubric to Assess

Post-Test Administration

Pre-Test/Post Testo “Bullying Situations”

Parent Surveyo Demographics, Attitude, Frequency

 Student Surveyo Demographics, Attitude, Frequency

Bullying Incident Reports

Dramatic Role Play Rubric

This graph shows that Class X’s pre-test average was 72%. With the informative class sessions and the cumulative assignment, Class X’s post-test average is 85%. This is a 13% increase from the pre-test.

Pre Test/Post Test Data

Descriptive Statistics

Pre-Test Post-Test

Mean 72% 85%

37% of the 27 parents disagreed to their child being a victim of bullying. There was no correlation between children not being victims and the pre-test scores (Bullying Situations)

62% of the 27 parents agreed to their child being a victim of bullying. There was a fair correlation of 0.43 for students who have been victims and pre-test scores (Bullying Situations)

18% of 27 parents disagree to talk to their child about bullying on a continuous basis. There was a very high negative correlation of -0.75 between not talking with child about bullying and pre-test scores(Bullying Situations)

81% of 27 parents agree to talk to their child about bullying on a continuous basis. There was a very high positive correlation of 0.70 between agreeing to talk to their child about bullying and pre test scores(Bullying Situations)

44% of 27 parents disagreed to their children having access to social media. There was no correlation between children having access to pre-test scores(Bullying Situations). This might be the reason for low pre-test scores.

55% of 27 parents agreed to their children having access to social media. There was no correlation between children having access to pre-test scores (Bullying Situations). This might be the reason for low pre-test scores.

Bell Curve

Mean: 72.04

Median: 75

SD: 14.22

Variation: 189

Mean: 84.8

Median: 90

SD:12.28

Variation: 151

Discussions Research shows that students test scores increased by 13% from their pre-test and their post-test in one month

The action research results supports the theorists ideologies and current research:

The Olweus Intervention Model: School Based, Class Based, Individual Based

Implementing drama into bullying interventions

Providing effective strategies

Speaking up for others in the occurrence of bullying through Bullying Incident Reports

Implications

The researcher presumes that there was a connection between students not having an anti-bullying program at school and poor pre-test results

The researcher presumes there is a connection between students having an anti-bullying intervention for 4 weeks and high post-test results.

However, more research is needed due to the inability to intervene directly to the entire school

Students Reflections Q: Was this intervention or bullying program helpful in your class and school environment? Why or why not?

A1: “It was helpful in my class because it taught us how people bully”

A2: “Yes, it was because more people stopped bullying me.”

A3: “Yes, because we don’t usually have the program in our school.”

A4: “Yes, because I am starting to control my anger a little.”

A5: “The intervention was helpful because now I have strategies to protect myself from a bully.”

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