School-based anti-bullying strategies in Taiwan and their effects. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Li-Ming
• Is Part Of: Studies in educational evaluation. Volume 59(2018)
• Page Start: 218
• Page End: 223
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Anti-bullying attitudes -- Anti-bullying policy -- Anti-bullying strategies -- Bullying prevention -- Prevalence rate -- School bullying; Curriculum evaluation -- Periodicals; Educational tests and measurements -- Periodicals; Programmes d'études -- Evaluation -- Périodiques; Tests et mesures en éducation -- Périodiques; 375.006
• DOI: 10.1016/j.stueduc.2018.09.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-491X

Abstract

Highlights: National anti-bullying policies in Taiwan were introduced in this study. Strategies adopted in anti-bullying schools and ordinary schools were examined. Schools preferentially adopt familiar strategies to prevent bullying. Using more strategies in schools may not result in lower prevalence rates. Abstract: The Ministry of Education in Taiwan provides subsidies to selected schools to implement school-based anti-bullying strategies. This study explored the types of strategies that were adopted in anti-bullying schools and investigated whether the prevalence rates of bullying were decreased and anti-bullying awareness increased among students in these schools relative to ordinary schools. Six anti-bullying schools and six ordinary schools participated in this project. A total of 1712 and 1593 students participated in the pre-test and post-test, respectively. Results found that higher numbers anti-bullying strategies adopted in schools did not correspond to lower prevalence rates of bullying and victimization. There were no significant differences in the mean scores for anti-bullying attitudes, the prevalence rates of bullying, victimization, and bully-victims between anti-bullying schools and ordinary schools. This suggests that schools should focus on the quality or effectiveness of their anti-bullying strategies rather than the number of strategies employed.