Mount a new program of research on anti-bullying program effectiveness building on meta-analytic findings¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 11 claims (11 for) · 2 studies (2 quant-synthesis), q3–q4 · 1 of 2 report an effect size · 11 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The authors conclude that the evidence base from 44 evaluations is now sufficient to justify and guide a new wave of evaluation research: "the time is ripe to mount a new program of research on the effectiveness of anti-bullying programs based on these findings". Future studies should be designed in light of the identified effective elements (intensity, parent meetings, firm discipline, playground supervision) and the adverse association for peer work.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• New evaluations should permit effect size calculation for bullying and victimization against a control group

Constraints¶

Target Learners¶

• school students in primary and secondary schools

Target Learning Goals¶

• reduction of bullying behavior
• reduction of peer victimization

Claims¶

• School-based anti-bullying programs are effective overall, decreasing bullying by 20-23% on average [+M]
• School-based anti-bullying programs decrease victimization by 17-20% on average [+M]
• More intensive anti-bullying programs are more effective [+M]
• Parent meetings, firm disciplinary methods, and improved playground supervision are program elements associated with decreases in bullying and victimization [+M]
• Work with peers in anti-bullying programs is associated with an increase in victimization [+M]
• Effectiveness of anti-bullying programs varies significantly across evaluations (heterogeneity) [+M]
• School-based anti-bullying programs reduce bullying perpetration and victimization globally [+M]
• NoTrap! was the most effective program for reducing bullying victimization, while ViSC and fairplayer.manual showed non-significant negative effects [+M]
• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program produced the largest effect sizes for bullying perpetration, with effectiveness varying between Norway and USA evaluations [+M]
• Program effectiveness varies by country: Greece led for perpetration, Italy for victimization [+M]
• Regional differences in program effectiveness: North America led for perpetration, Scandinavia for victimization, with no clear overall pattern [+M]

Related Strategies¶

• Tailor anti-bullying programs to cultural differences in how bullying manifests
• Develop customized anti-bullying intervention strategies according to the neurocognitive profile of students in each school

Examples¶

-

Key Sources¶

• Maria M. Ttofi, David P. Farrington. (2011). Effectiveness of school-based programs to reduce bullying: a systematic and meta-analytic review. J Exp Criminol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11292-010-9109-1