An Evaluation Of The Effects Of Conflict Resolution Training On The Attitudes And Behavior Of Sixth Grade Students At A Public Urban Middle School PDF Download

This study investigated the effects that peer mediation/conflict resolution training has on the behavior, attitudes and problem solving strategies of sixth grade urban students. The participants were randomly drawn from the middle school population of the City of York, Pennsylvania. An experimental pretest post-test design was used to conduct the investigation. Information used to measure the dependent variables was gathered from a Likert scale questionnaire and from district discipline records. The data were analyzed using an analysis of variance and chi square procedure. The effect of peer mediation/conflict resolution training on behavior was significant. The control group had more incidents of anti-social behavior than the experimental group. Additionally, a significant effect was found regarding attitudes. The experimental group was found to demonstrate more pro-social attitudes than the control group. Training also had a significant effect on problem solving skills. The experimental group scores indicated greater use of pro-social behavioral skills in solving conflicts than the control group. Results from the data provide information that can enable administrators to address discipline concerns arising from naturally occurring conflict. -- Abstract.