Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:46:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2294.pdf: 2951635 bytes, checksum: 610c81c21213dee86650b3f2b4cef9ab (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-02-09 / Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais / The school context was pointed out as favorable in regards to violence prevention efforts. However, Brazilian studies revealed the existence of violence in the schools, in spite of the absence of valid instruments, and most studies without strict scientific methods. In addiction, these studies did not evaluate different violence risk schools, and few investigated its contributing factors. The present study encompasses two parts. Study 1 had as objectives: (a) to develop and conduct the apparent validity of an instrument to assess school violence, and (b) to develop and perform a pilot test of an instrument aimed at assessing school employees` perception about how a school violence prevention program should be. Study 2 characterized the violence experienced in three schools with diverse risk indicators, according to multiple informants, as well as the perception of the staff about school violence prevention, using the instruments developed in Study 1. Participants involved 706 students, from grades 5-8th, 88 employees of three public schools of Curitiba (Southern Brazil) and six researchers in the area of violence. The instruments were efficient and had good acceptance by the participants. Violence rates in the schools were high regardless of the risk that they were exposed to. Antecedents to aggressive behaviors were examined (i.e. to students victims the most frequent motive for aggressions was violent play). It was also shown that the most common modality of violent behaviors, according to victimized students, was name calling. Consequences to aggressive behaviors by students were also indentified, and the most frequent alternative in this regard was nothing happened . In general, students pointed out that the higher risk school did not differentiate from the intermediate risk school or from the minor risk school, although the minor risk school was more associated with violence than the intermediate risk school. According to staff, the higher risk school was more violent, followed by the intermediate school. The higher risk school was more associated with substance abuse by students, the existence of gangs, drug dealing, and possession of weapons. Staff considered relevant to prevent violence in the schools, but only the higher risk school employees declared it to be more important than other objectives. Psychologists and police officers, followed by parents, were the most frequent sources indentified in terms of involvement with school violence prevention programs. In conclusion, the present study was able to characterize how school violence presents itself, and to investigate contributing variables to the problem. Nevertheless, it is important to replicate the study, and to perform other steps in terms of validation of the instrument, as well as covering the aspects needed for intervention studies, in accordance with the literature. / O contexto escolar foi apontado como favorável para a realização de prevenção de violência. Contudo, estudos brasileiros apontaram a existência de violência em escolas, ainda que com instrumentos não validados e, em sua maioria, sem seguirem todos os preceitos científicos. Além disso, não deliberadamente avaliaram escolas com diferentes graus de risco para a violência e poucas investigaram fatores contribuintes. Essa dissertação se divide em dois estudos. O estudo 1 teve como objetivos: (a) criar e realizar a validação aparente de um instrumento que avaliasse violência escolar e (b) criar e aplicar em teste piloto um instrumento que investigasse a percepção de funcionários sobre um programa de prevenção de violência escolar. O estudo 2 caracterizou a violência vivenciada em três escolas com indicadores de risco diferenciados, de acordo com múltiplos informantes, e investigou percepções de funcionários sobre prevenção de violência escolar, tendo utilizado dos instrumentos desenvolvidos no estudo 1. Participaram da pesquisa 706 alunos, de 5ª. a 8ª. séries, 88 funcionários de três escolas públicas da cidade de Curitiba e seis pesquisadores da área de violência. Os instrumentos foram eficientes e tiveram boa aceitação do público-alvo, foram altos os índices de violência na escola independentemente do risco a que a escola estivesse exposta. Delinearam-se condições antecedentes a comportamentos agressivos (por exemplo, os alunos vítimas referiram que o motivo mais freqüentemente para as agressões foram brincadeiras violentas). Revelou-se, também, a topografia dos comportamentos violentos, por exemplo, para os alunos vítimas a forma de vitimização mais comum foi xingamentos e/ou apelidos. Aludiu-se, também, condições conseqüentes aos comportamentos agressivos dos alunos, como a alternativa nada aconteceu ser a mais assinalada. Em geral, os alunos apontaram que a escola mais exposta a riscos (Escola MAR) não se diferenciou da escola exposta a risco intermediário (Escola INR) e da menor risco (Escola MER), porém a Escola MER foi mais violenta que a INR. Para os funcionários, a escola MAR foi a mais violenta, seguida pela INR e esta pela MER, sendo que a escola MAR estava mais relacionada ao abuso de substâncias por alunos, gangues, tráfico de drogas e porte de armas. Os funcionários consideraram relevante prevenir violência, porém somente na escola MAR este objetivo foi mais importante que outros. Nas três escolas, profissionais que são de fora da escola, seguido pelos pais, foram os mais citados como quem deveria realizar prevenção. Em conclusão, o estudo traçou um panorama da violência escolar e investigou variáveis contribuintes, porém seria importante replicá-lo, realizando outras etapas da validação dos instrumentos e abordando os aspectos percebidos em estudos de intervenção.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master in Technology: Public Administration-Peace Studies, Durban University of Technology, 2017. / Since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, the issue of achieving sustainable peace and development has remained a challenge due to a lack of comprehensive approaches to issues of human rights violations. With such a problem, it becomes easy for individuals and society to use violence as a means to an end and, thus, it has become culturally acceptable, not only in political spheres but also in the school sphere. Therefore, this study aims to promote positive attitudes among students to reduce levels of bullying and to enable to realise the prevention mechanisms that exist within themselves through an action research intervention. Action research with a group of ten students was used create awareness on the negative impact of bullying and also the importance of creating and maintaining peaceful schools. Research proved that violent behaviour among students appears to be a serious problem at Prince Edward School and at Cranborne High School. I worked together with students in two schools to design, implement and evaluate a programme designed to reduce bullying behaviour. It is recommended that students, academic staff, police and the Ministry of Education work together to design interventions that include students in reducing bullying in schools. / M

The focus of this thesis falls on school violence. The research addresses the possibility that a culture of violence exists amongst some South African school-going youth. The researcher identified the attitudes and behaviour of learners towards violence as indicators of the culture of these learners. The research specifically focused on the pro-violence attitudes and violent behaviour of learners. The definition of ‘culture’ which was employed suggests the link between a person’s attitude, behaviour and culture. Information was gathered through literature and empirical research. The data was collected by means of a questionnaire with closed-ended questions and a well-tested tool, namely the Attitudes towards Violence Scale. The results of the empirical research were analyzed with the SPSS Windows data editor computer program. Conclusions and recommendations regarding school violence were made. In addition, a programme to curb such violence was proposed. Some suggestions for further research into this subject were also advanced. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Criminology)

The focus of this thesis falls on school violence. The research addresses the possibility that a culture of violence exists amongst some South African school-going youth. The researcher identified the attitudes and behaviour of learners towards violence as indicators of the culture of these learners. The research specifically focused on the pro-violence attitudes and violent behaviour of learners. The definition of ‘culture’ which was employed suggests the link between a person’s attitude, behaviour and culture. Information was gathered through literature and empirical research. The data was collected by means of a questionnaire with closed-ended questions and a well-tested tool, namely the Attitudes towards Violence Scale. The results of the empirical research were analyzed with the SPSS Windows data editor computer program. Conclusions and recommendations regarding school violence were made. In addition, a programme to curb such violence was proposed. Some suggestions for further research into this subject were also advanced. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Criminology)

This explorative study investigated bullying in a sample of schools in Lesotho from the learner’s perspective. A review of the existing literature formed the basis for the offered description of the phenomenon. The work examined concise definitions of bullying, school violence, victim and bully. The research described various forms of bullying, reason for and possible intervention strategies. The quantitative research method was applied, which included an analysis of the data obtained from a questionnaire containing 33 close-ended questions divided into six sections: general information; observation of bullying; experience of bullying; impact of bullying; participation in bullying activities and reasons for bullying and measures against it. The questionnaires were distributed among 1 373 learners from Lesotho public schools which were used for the study. The research was brought to a conclusive end with a proposal for school bullying intervention strategies in Lesotho public schools. / Criminology / M.A. (Criminology)

This explorative study investigated bullying in a sample of schools in Lesotho from the learner’s perspective. A review of the existing literature formed the basis for the offered description of the phenomenon. The work examined concise definitions of bullying, school violence, victim and bully. The research described various forms of bullying, reason for and possible intervention strategies. The quantitative research method was applied, which included an analysis of the data obtained from a questionnaire containing 33 close-ended questions divided into six sections: general information; observation of bullying; experience of bullying; impact of bullying; participation in bullying activities and reasons for bullying and measures against it. The questionnaires were distributed among 1 373 learners from Lesotho public schools which were used for the study. The research was brought to a conclusive end with a proposal for school bullying intervention strategies in Lesotho public schools. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Criminology)

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, 2017. / The overall aim of this study was to examine the circumstances under which violence occured among learners at Phatheka Primary School, situated in the township of Umlazi, and in doing so explore the causes of violence among learners at this school. The study further aimed to explore the complicit role of the school as an agent in shaping the manner in which learners relate to violence and vis à vis shaping learner behaviour. The research was driven by three objectives: Firstly, to investigate the gendered, class and ethnic nature of perpetrators and victims of school violence. Secondly, to examine the intra-group interactions among peers and their positioning of each other in terms of violent behaviour. Lastly, to explore how the discipline regime of the school shaped the constructions of violent and peaceful behaviour among learners. The qualitative research approach was utilised to obtain detailed and rich data. Ten educators and ten learners were purposively chosen from one urban primary school in the Umlazi Township. The ten learners that were interviewed, were identified from teachers’ observations of conflict situations at the school, in the classroom and on the playground. The ten most senior educators formed the sample of educators for this study. Seniority was determined according to the number of years the educator had been teaching at this school. Four of the most senior male educators and six of the most senior female educators were selected. The data was collected through face-to-face interviews and focus group interviews. The composition of the group consisted of learners with different interests and cultures in order to stimulate debate. The questions asked in the focus group interviews were similar to the questions used in individual interviews to broaden the data by comparing the responses of respondents when they were on their own, to their responses in a group situation.. The data analysis process was organised according to the research questions and based on themes that emerged from the contents of the interviews. A list of themes was formed of each transcript. These themes were then grouped and organised according to similarities. The list of themes was compared to the data and codes were allocated. The data was then divided and organised into categories, relevant themes and sub-themes. The findings of this study revealed that violence at this school was mainly interpersonal. Physical violence at this school took the form of hitting, kicking, punching, slapping and other acts that caused physical pain or injury. This study found that many learners believed that certain types of muthi provided advantage to the user in conflicts and fights. Many boys at this school used vernacular expressions of stick fighting to reinforce their dominance over other boys, as metaphors of manhood that bolstered their position among peers. Physical confrontation often involved the use of sticks. Labelling also served as a trigger to ignite violence among learners. Learners labelled each other in terms of their physical appearance, their citizenship as well as their academic performance. There was strong evidence from learners’ interviews that they competed and labelled each other around issues of classroom practices and academic performance. This created tension among the learners which also led to physical confrontation and violence. Many boys subscribed to certain hegemonic notions of masculinity which created a mentality where the boys demanded respect and exercised power over girls. Boys often used violence or the threat of violence to claim and exercise this power. Romantic relationships with girls often caused boys at Phatheka to get into conflict situations in their attempts to avoid humiliation, to prove heterosexuality and to enjoy a particular status at the school. This study found that a large proportion of learners who reacted with violence when provoked, had learnt this behaviour through role models provided by parents, siblings, relatives and community members, either directly or indirectly, and that this was often reinforced at school by peers, bullies and figures of authority. Role models actively encouraged learners to defend themselves, or to solve problems, by means of force and aggression, which contributed significantly to shaping violent behaviour among learners. This notion among the learners at Phatheka Primary School that violence is the best way to resolve conflict, with or without weapons, meant that fighting became the norm at this school. Although school fights are common and every fight is different, this study found that some common causes do exist. It was also found that the school complicitly contributed to the violence among learners through school policies and the disciplinary practices of educators. / M

Nous avons retenu un maximum de réponses qui constituent, au vu des résultats, les déterminants majeurs du phénomène de violence scolaire en Haïti : l’usage de la violence verbale, morale et physique. Les résultats de cette recherche mettent en évidence les implications, au plan éducatif, de la prise en compte des représentations des élèves et des enseignants. Ils mettent par ailleurs en exergue un point névralgique pour l’école qui doit garantir la discipline nécessaire à la vie collective tout en respectant les principes démocratiques qui consacrent les droits et libertés de chacun.L’interprétation des propos des élèves et des enseignants ayant participé à cette recherche permet d’ébaucher des réponses qui tiennent compte de leurs attentes et répondent à la fois aux exigences de rigueur d’un établissement d’enseignement et aux principes démocratiques du droit. Quant à la politique publique en matière d’éducation, l’Etat haïtien est très faible, il n’a pas les personnes aux places qu’il faut. Le statu quo est gardé. Pour y remédier, l’Etat doit mettre en œuvre une politique éducative qui vise à redonner à l’éducation son vrai sens et sa vraie valeur c’est-à-dire former l’être pour devenir le citoyen non violent de l’avenir. / We selected maximum responses are, in view of the results, the major determinants of these phenomena: the use of verbal abuse, the use of psychological violence and even physical violence.The results of this research highlight the implications to educational level, taking into account the representations of students and teachers. They shall also highlight a hotspot for the school to ensure the necessary discipline in community life while respecting the democratic principles that enshrine the rights and freedoms of everyone.The interpretation of what students and teachers who participated in this research allows to draft responses that take into account their expectations and meet both the requirements of a rigorous educational and democratic principles of law school.As to public policy in education, the Haitian state is very low, it was not the right people to their right place. So doing, the situation remains untouchable. To remedy this, the state must implement an education policy that aims to give education its true meaning and its true value is to say form be to become citizens of tomorrow and not violent.

Thesis (D. Ed.)--University of South Africa, 2001.

Thesis (MScPsy)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The phenomenon of violence is an all-too-common experience for many people around the world. In South Africa the legacy of a system of institutionalised violence has influenced the fabric of this society. The consequences of violence on South African youth are of major concern for the country's future. This research examines the types and contexts of exposure to violence and the types of self-reported aggression in a sample of 426 adolescent learners from three schools in the Stellenbosch District. The role of gender in mediating the type and the location of violence exposure and aggressive behaviour is also explored in this study. A questionnaire consisting of modified versions of the Screen for Adolescent Violence Exposure (SAVE) and the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) was administered to 187 male and 239 female adolescents from three schools. The sample reported being exposed to moderately high levels of indirect violence in their community. This exposure was significantly correlated to high levels of self-reported aggression. Results from the Analyses of Variance indicated that females were exposed to more physical/verbal abuse at home, while males more frequently witnessed traumatic violence at school and in the community. The learners reported high levels of aggression, particularly with regard to physical aggression, verbal aggression and hostility. From these observations, females were found to be more hostile, while males demonstrated higher levels of physical aggression. Analysis of the gender differences suggested that males were more likely to display verbal aggression when exposed to violence, while females' exposure to physical/verbal abuse at school appeared to increase their levels of anger. The findings from this study indicate that adolescents exposed to high levels of violence are at risk of presenting with elevated levels of aggression. Efforts need to be made to reduce the levels of exposure to violence and adolescents' levels of aggression. It is suggested that adolescents be taught prosocial skills with regard to conflict situations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geweld is vir baie mense dwarsoor die wêreld 'n alledaagse verskynsel. Die stelsel van geinstitusionaliseerde geweld in Suid-Afrika het die wese van die samelewing beinvloed. Die gevolge van geweld op die Suid-Afrikaanse jeug is vir die land se toekoms kommerwekkend. Hierdie studie ondersoek die tipes en inhoud van blootstelling aan geweld, die tipes van selferkende aggressie en die verband tussen blootstelling en aggressie. Die studie ondersoek ook die rol van geslag in die blootstelling aan geweld, asook dié van aggressiewe gedrag. Die ondersoekgroep was 'n groep van 426 adolessente leerders van drie skole in die Stellenbosch Distrik. 'n Vraelys, bestaande uit aangepaste weergawes van die "Screen for Adolescent Violent Exposure (SAVE)" (Hastings & Kelley, 1997) en die "Aggression Questionnaire (AQ)" (Buss & Perry, 1992) is gebruik om 187 manlike en 239 vroulike adolessente by die drie skole te toets. Daar is gevind dat die ondersoekgroep blootgestel was aan redelike hoë vlakke van indirekte geweld in hulle gemeenskap wat beduidend korreleer met hul hoë selferkende aggressie. Resultate van die variansie-ontleding wys dat meisies meer blootgestel is aan fisiese/verbale geweld tuis, terwyl seuns weer meer dikwels getuies van traumatiese geweld by die skool en in die gemeenskap was. Die leerders het hoë vlakke van aggressie, veral fisiese aggressie, verbale aggressie en vyandigheid gerapporteer. Van die bevindings kan afgelei word dat meisies meer vyandig is, terwyl seuns weer hoër vlakke van fisiese aggressie geopenbaar het. Analise van die geslags verskille dui aan dat seuns meer geneig is tot verbale aggressie wanneer hulle aan geweld blootgestel word, terwyl meisies meer geneig is tot woede wanneer hulle aan fisiese of verba Ie geweld by die skool blootgestel word. Die bevindings dui aan dat adolessente wat blootgestel word aan hoë vlakke van geweld geneig is tot hoë vlakke van aggressie. Pogings behoort aangewend te word om geweld en die vlakke van aggressie verminder. Daar word aanbeveel dat adolessente sosiale vaardighede geleer moet word om konfliksituasies beter te kan hanteer.