Bullying behavior: what is the potential for violence at your school?

Journal of Instructional Psychology, June, 2003 by Clete Bulach, Julie Penland Fulbright, Ronnie Williams

I am picked on physically (hit, pushed, shoved, etc.) while I'm at school.

I am picked on because of my name.

I am picked on because of the way I look.

I am picked on because of the clothes I wear.

I am picked on because of other reasons.

Factor three--how students are treated; (nine behaviors)

Students at our school show respect for each other.

Our school is a safe place for students.

The discipline that students receive at our school stops them from repeating the same behavior.

Students at school are held responsible for their actions.

Student discipline is administered fairly at our school.

Friends put pressure on me to do things I don't want to do.

People care about each other at our school.

Teachers at our school help me understand and get along with other students.

When a student is picked on, school staff do something about it.

Factor four--the way students report bullying behavior; (five behaviors)

When I see a student picking on another student, I report it to someone who works at our school.

If I were picked on, I would tell my teacher about it.

If I were picked on, I would tell my parent or guardian about it.

If I were picked on, I would tell my friends about it.

If I were picked on, I would not tell anybody.

Factor five--feelings of self-efficacy (twenty-one).

I get nervous when I try out for things.

When I am in a tough situation, I think positively.

I am sure of myself.

Decisions are hard for me.

I learn from my mistakes.

I learn from others' mistakes.

I can make other students do what I want them to do.

People who know me think I overcome problems easily.

I get embarrassed easily.

I feel safe in the neighborhood I live in.

Teachers at our school help me to feel good about myself

My friends support me.

I like the way I look.

It is hard for me to be patient.

My parents understand me.

I don't get along with other students.

I understand people who are different from me.

People who know me think I am stubborn.

I am not popular.

I want things to work well for me.

I want things to work well for others.

Table 1

The correlations of the scale factors

                  Factor     Factor       Factor      Factor     Factor
                   one        two         three        four       five

Factor one        1.00
Where bullying occurs
Factor two         .404 *    1.00
Type and reason for bullying
Factor three      -.003       .237 *     1.00
How students are treated
Factor four        .230 *     .088        .402 **    1.00
How students report bullying
Factor five        .116       .340 **     .376 **     .343 **     1.00
Self-efficacy

** P < 003, * P < .02, N = 673.

References

ASCD. (Fall, 1999). The social side of schooling: Nurturing human relationships. Curriculum Update, p. 1.

Barone, F. J. (1997). Bullying in school: It doesn't have to happen. Phi Delta Kappan, 79(1), 80-82.

Beale, A. V. (2001). "Bullybusters:" Using drama to empower students to take a stand against bullying. Professional School Counseling, 4(4), 300-308.

Beane, A. L. (1999). The bully free classroom, Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing Co.