TITLE:
Creating Awareness of Bullying, Its Impact on Children, and Strategies towards Behavioural Change
AUTHORS:
Wasiu Abayomi, Angela Daniels
KEYWORDS:
Bulling, Behavioural Change, Aggressive Behaviour, Action Research
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.9 No.11,
November
30,
2021
ABSTRACT: In Jamaica research conducted revealed that 70% of
the participants reported being bullied with more girls than boys (PSearch Associates Company Ltd., 2015). The purpose of this research is to create awareness and identify
strategies towards a change in attitude regarding bullying, by using workshops
with grade seven students at an all-girls school in Kingston, Jamaica. Workshop
is “an educational method” which “provides learners with an opportunity to
exchange information, practice skills and receive feedback” (Steinert & Ouellet, 2012: p. 3). The
sample population consisted of four students and two Guidance Counsellors. Action
Research methodology was used to decide whether or not workshops can be used to
create awareness of bullying among grade seven students and determine to what
extent can workshops increase awareness and change in attitude and behaviour
towards bullying. Focus Group, and Qualitative approach using Questionnaires
and Interviews were used to collect the data. The findings revealed that there
was an increase in knowledge among the students in the areas of their
understanding of bullying, the reason behind children being bullied, the impact
on the victim and strategies in addressing and preventing bullying.