KiVa: Anti-Bullying Programme (Welsh Pilot)

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KiVa: Anti-Bullying Programme (Welsh Pilot) A KESS* & CEIT** Funded Evaluation of Unit 2 (9-11 years old) of the KiVa ProgrammeSuzy ClarksonProfessor Judy Hutchings & Dr. Helen Baker-Henningham Centre for Evidence Based Early Intervention, School of Psychology, Bangor University Definition of Bullying: Bullying is the repeated oppression, psychological or physical, of a less powerful person by a more powerful person or group of persons (Farrington, 1993) • Background • “KiVa” is an acronym of the Finnish phrase ‘kiusaamista vastan’ which means ‘against bullying’; additionally ‘kiva’ means ‘nice’ in Finnish • In 2006, the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture commissioned the University of Turku to develop an anti-bullying programme • The KiVa Programme was developed by Professor Christina Salmivalli and colleagues at the University of Turku • The programme is based on Prof. Salmivalli’s research that has demonstrated that “bullying is a group phenomenon” and that the behaviour of the bully/bullies is influenced by the “bystander” (a witness). A bystander, by their reaction, can either maintain (reinforce with social reward) or reduce (withdraw social reward) the bullying behaviour • The programme is school based, with preventive and targeted elements that are used when an incident of bullying is identified • Currently approx. 82% of Finnish schools implement the programme • The KiVa Programme • Aim: To end ongoing bullying, prevent the development of new bullying incidents/relationships and support the victims • It is a practical tool, rather that an “ideology” • KiVa is a whole-school programme and includes materials and a web site for parents • There are three versions of the programme: Unit 1 is suitable for Key-Stage 2 Years 3-4, Unit 2 is suitable for Key-Stages 2 and 3, Years 5-8, and Unit 3 is suitable for Key-Stages 3, Years 9-11 • Universal actions: Student lessons, virtual learning, parent’s guide, high visibility vest for break time, posters etc. • Indicated actions: Structured discussion for incidents of bullying by an identified and trained school KiVa team • Lessons: teach children to respect each other, resist peer pressure, understand the role a group plays in bullying, increase empathy, support the victim and take responsibility for not allowing bullying to occur • Prior and OngoingResearch on the KiVa Programme in Finland • A randomised controlled design (Various papers, example reference, Karna et al, 2011b) • 234 schools in Finland, approx. 28,000 students (Finnish and Swedish speaking schools) • Web-based pupil questionnaire, developed for KiVa, bullying, victimisation, family structure, well-being, peer acceptance and rejection, school motivation etc. • KiVa was found to significantly reduce bullying and victimisation at primary school level. In Grades 7-9 (UK academic years 9-11) the effects were mixed and appeared to depend on gender, with larger effects among the boys • These results led to the roll out across Finland where 82% of schools are now trained and delivering the programme • Welsh Pilot 2012/3 • Training for the pilot was organised by the Children’s Early Intervention Trust (CEIT), Bangor • An MREs was jointly funded for Suzy Clarkson by CEITand KESSEuropean funding to undertake this research. • Teacher and KiVa team training was mainly funded by Welsh Government (with some schools self-funding) • At commencement of the study only Unit 2 had been translated into English (Unit 2 produced the most significant results in the initial Finnish RCT) • The evaluation is of Unit 2 (ages 9-11 years old) in 14 Welsh (North and South) and 3 Cheshire schools • Baseline data was collected by the KiVa web-based questionnaire completed by the children in September 2012 and to be repeated in June 2013 (data is anonymous and will be reported at a class and school level) • Evaluation will be on self-reported victimisation and bullying and teacher feedback on how the programme translates to a different setting where school structures, etc. are very different from those in Finland. • Newly Funded Randomised Controlled Trial in Wales • Funded by a BIG Lottery Innovation Grant – March 2013 – July 2015 • Research to be completed by Dr Axford, Social Research Unit, Dartington, in • partnership with Professor Hutchings, Centre for Evidence Based Early Interventions (CEBEI), Bangor University • Teacher and KiVa team training will be delivered by CEIT, with Professor Hutchings, who is presently the only approved trainer for KiVa in the UK • Units 1 and 2 will be used in twenty Welsh schools (North and South) in all of Key-Stage 2 • Manuals and materials are being translated into Welsh (funded by BIG Lottery) • Ten schools will implement the programme in 2013/2014 and the control (ten schools) will implement 2014/2015 References: Farrington, D. P. (1993). Understanding and preventing bullying. In M. Tonny and N. Morris (Eds.). Crime and Justice. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. Karna, A., Voeten, M., Little, T.D., Poskiparta, E., Alanen, E.,|& Salmivalli, C. (2011b). Going to scale: A nonrandomized nationwide trial of the KiVaantibullying program for Grades 1-9. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79, 796-805. For further information about these research projects please contactSuzy Clarkson at the CEBEI offices Bangor University on email: pss01f@bangor.ac.uk KiVa Wales website: http://www.kivaprogram.net/wales * KESS is the European Social Fund Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarship programme ** CEIT is the Children’s Early Intervention Trust registered charity no 5907566, administrator: e.f.williams@bangor.ac.uk