The Effectiveness of a Violence Prevention Program: Did It Influence How Children Conceptualize Bullying?

This paper reports on a study, which is part of a broader set of studies, designed to evaluate a violence prevention program entitled Expect Respect conducted in Austin, Texas elementary schools. The qualitative study was conducted to determine whether students in schools who received the Expect Respect curriculum conceptualized bullying differently from their cohorts in other schools. The program aims to improve peer relationships and communication skills among students and to help bullies understand the boundaries between appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. Forty fifth-grade students from four schools participated in the study. Two of the schools were part of the Expect Respect program and two were not. The results showed that students characterized a more diverse set of behaviors as bullying than expected. Students who participated in Expect Respect curriculum were more aware of instances of bullying and were more likely to think something could be done about bullying. One recommendation of the study is that children need to explain their definitions of bullying in order for teachers and researchers to understand their existing cognitions about the topic. It was apparent that students perceived a need for forums to allow them to discuss bullying. Appended are the Expect Respect Interviews. (Contains 24 tables and 14 references.) (JDM)