AN ANALYSIS OF THE LIMITATIONS OF A BEHAVIOURAL PROGRAMME FOR BULLYING BOYS FROM A SUBECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

This article is a retrospective analysis of the research difficulties faced during an intervention for 54 bullying boys from a sub-economic background. The research comprised the design, implementation and evaluation of a behavioural intervention at three targeted primary schools. An experimental groups design was used, with three assessment times, pre-, post- and one-month follow-up testing. The t-test for matched participants, with alpha set at 0.05, produced insignificant change for all three experimental conditions, at all three targeted schools, over time. Three issues are addressed, namely problems experienced with: 1) the conceptualisation of bullying behaviour, 2) the effects of the socio-economic environment and 3) the time-focused approach of the project. The article closes with future recommendations for intervention.


(Southern Af. J. of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 2000, 12(1): 59-69)