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The setting of this research study was the Haysville School District, a suburbanschool district of approximately 5,000 students located in Haysville, Kansas. Seventyfour elementary teachers completed a survey and six elementary principals wereinterviewed to determine their perceptions of the effectiveness of the Olweus BullyingPrevention Program during the 2014-2015 school year. Specifically, the purpose of thestudy was to determine the extent to which teachers perceived that students and staff wereusing more effective strategies to stop bullying, the number of bullying incidents hadbeen reduced, and the severity of bullying incidents had been reduced after the OBPPimplementation. Furthermore, the purpose of the study was to determine the extent towhich teachers perceived they had a greater understanding of the bullying problem intheir school, there was more stakeholder involvement in solving bullying problems, andthere was a more peaceful atmosphere in their school after the OBPP implementation.Additionally, the purpose of the study was to determine whether there was a difference inteachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the OBPP between teachers whose schoolhad a student leadership program and teachers whose schools did not have a studentleadership program. The final purpose of the study was to determine, through interviews,elementary principals’ perceptions of the OBPP.A mixed method research design was implemented that involved collecting datato represent both quantitative and qualitative information. Quantitative findings revealedthat the majority of elementary teachers perceived that students and staff were using moreeffective strategies to stop bullying and had a greater understanding of the bullyingproblem since implementing the OBPP. Qualitative findings revealed that the majority of principals stated that their schools utilized many strategies to prevent and addressbullying and have more clearly defined consequences for bullying behaviors as a result ofthe OBPP implementation. Several major findings from the current study were supportedby both quantitative and qualitative data. Elementary teachers and principals perceivedthere is more community or stakeholder involvement in solving bullying problems as aresult of the OBPP implementation. It was also determined that elementary teachers andprincipals perceived that the number and severity of bullying incidents had decreasedafter the OBPP implementation. In addition, the majority of teachers and principalsperceived that the atmosphere at school had been more peaceful or positive afterimplementation of the OBPP.It is incumbent upon school districts to choose an anti-bullying program andimplement it with fidelity. This mixed method study was designed to inform schoolofficials in their decision-making process related to bullying prevention, specifically atthe elementary level. The results of the current study provide data that may aid districtleaders in the selection of an anti-bullying curriculum. |
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