Can schools reduce bullying? The relationship between school characteristics and the prevalence of bullying behaviours

Bibliographic Data

ID5264561
AuthorsDaniel Muijs (0000-0002-0131-8921, University of Southampton UK, corresponding author)
Year2017
Volume87
Issue2
Pages255-272
Publication date2017-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBritish Journal of Educational Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-0998 • E-ISSN: 2044-8279
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/bjep.12148
PMID28220471
OpenAlexW2589711789
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited32

BackgroundBullying remains a persistent phenomenon in schools, but the extent to which day-to-day policies and practices relate to bullying prevalence has not been widely studied. In this study, we use an educational effectiveness framework to interrogate this relationship.AimsThe aim was to study the relationship between school factors and prevalence of bullying in primary schools. We hypothesize that school conditions (e.g., size), school policies (e.g., behaviour policies), and school processes (e.g., teaching quality) are related to bullying prevalence.SampleSurveys were administered to pupils in 35 primary schools in four local authorities in England. Pupils (N = 1,411) and teachers (N = 68) in the final year of primary school (year 6) were surveyed.MethodsThis study drew on the following data sources:A pupil survey on bullying behavioursA survey of teachers on school policies and processesAnalysis of data on school processes from school inspection reportsAnalysis of secondary data on school conditions and pupil characteristics.Three-level multilevel models were used to analyse the data.ResultsResults show a substantial school- and classroom-level effect on prevalence of bullying. Effective school policies were found to be related to levels of bullying.ConclusionsThe study provides support for the importance of schools' embedded policies and practices in relation to bullying prevalence and provides evidence for policy on the importance of focusing on a broad range of outcomes

Environmental health · Medical education · Multilevel model · Poison control · Pupil · Sample (material) · Behavioral and Psychological Studies · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Early Childhood Education and Development · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Medicine · Psychology

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