KiVa: Anti-Bullying Programme Establishing and researching the programme in Wales

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KiVa: Anti-Bullying Programme Establishing and researching the programme in Wales A BIG Lottery, KESS* & CEIT** Funded Evaluation of the Programme Suzy Clarkson, Professor Judy Hutchings, & Dr. Helen Baker-Henningham Centre for Evidence Based Early Intervention, School of Psychology, Bangor University Definition of Bullying: Bullying is the repeated oppression, psychological or physical, of a less powerful person by a more powerful person or group of persons (Farrington, 1993) • Background • “KiVa” is an acronym of the Finnish phrase ‘kiusaamista vastan’ which means ‘against bullying’; additionally ‘kiva’ means ‘nice’ in Finnish • In 2006, the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture commissioned the University of Turku to develop an anti-bullying programme • The KiVa Programme was developed by Professor Christina Salmivalli and colleagues at the University of Turku • The programme is based on Professor Salmivalli’s research that has demonstrated that “bullying is a group phenomenon” and that the behaviour of the bully/bullies is influenced by the “bystander” (a witness). A bystander, by their reaction, can either maintain (reinforce with social reward) or reduce (withdraw social reward) the bullying behaviour • The programme is school based, with preventive (universal) and targeted (indicated) actions • Currently approx. 90% of Finnish schools implement the programme • The KiVa Programme • Aim: To end ongoing bullying, prevent the development of new bullying incidents/relationships, and support the victims • It is a practical tool, rather that an “ideology” • KiVa is a whole-school programme that includes materials and a web site for parents • There are three versions of the programme: Unit 1 is suitable for Key-Stage 2 Years 3-4, Unit 2 is suitable for Key-Stages 2 and 3, Years 5-8, and Unit 3 is suitable for Key-Stages 3, Years 9-11 • Universal actions: Student lessons, virtual learning, parent’s guide, high visibility vest for break time, posters, etc. • Indicated actions: Structured discussion for incidents of bullying by an identified and trained school KiVa team • Lessons: Teach pupils to respect each other, resist peer pressure, understand the role a group plays in bullying, increase empathy, support the victim, and take responsibility for not allowing bullying to occur • Research on the KiVa Programme in Finland • A randomised controlled design (Various papers, example reference, Karna et al, 2011b) • 234 schools in Finland, approx. 28,000 students (Finnish and Swedish speaking schools) • Web-based pupil survey, developed for KiVa, bullying, victimisation, family structure, well-being, peer acceptance and rejection, school motivation, etc. • KiVa was found to significantly reduce bullying and victimisation at primary school level ages 7 – 11 years • These results led to the roll out across Finland where 90% of schools are now delivering the programme • Welsh Pilot 2012/3 • Training for the pilot was organised by the Children’s Early Intervention Trust (CEIT), Bangor • An MRes was jointly funded for Suzy Clarkson by CEITand KESSEuropean funding to undertake the evaluation • Teacher and KiVa team training was mainly funded by the Welsh Government (with some schools self-funding) • Only Unit 2 had been translated into English. Unit 2 had produced the most significant results in Finland • Evaluation of Unit 2 (ages 9-11 years old) in 14 Welsh and 3 Cheshire schools has now been completed • Baseline data was collected in September 2012 via the KiVa pupil web-based survey and post-test data was collected in June 2013 (data was anonymous and was reported at a class and school level) • Self-reported victimisation and bullying was significantly reduced in classes delivering the programme • Teacher feedback indicated that 75-100% of pupils engaged and were enthusiastic about the lessons • The majority of the teachers reported that the programme had a positive impact on: child well-being, behaviour, pro-social behaviour, and class and playground atmosphere • Eleven schools are continuing with the programme and Lisa Pritchard has been funded by KESS and CEIT to do an MRes following up the pilot schools to learn about the successes and challenges in implementing the programme • BIG Lottery Innovation Funded Randomised Controlled Trial in Wales • Lottery Grant – March 2013 – July 2015. Research team: Social Research Unit, • Dartington, and CEBEI, School of Psychology, Bangor University • Teacher and KiVa team training and support is delivered in CEIT, by Professor Hutchings and Suzy Clarkson • Units 1 and 2 are being used in 20 Welsh schools, with lessons delivered in all Key-Stage 2 classes • Class and parent materials have been translated into Welsh (funded by BIG Lottery) • Eleven schools are implementing the programme in 2013/2014 and the 9 control schools start in 2014/2015 • Suzy Clarkson is the Research Project Support Officer and also undertaking a PhD alongside the funded research • Elin Williams is the Project Administrator • Evaluation measures: KiVa online survey, Teacher Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and school absenteeism References: Farrington, D. P. (1993). Understanding and preventing bullying. In M. Tonny and N. Morris (Eds.). Crime and Justice. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. Karna, A., Voeten, M., Little, T. D., Poskiparta, E., Alanen, E.,|& Salmivalli, C. (2011b). Going to scale: A nonrandomized nationwide trial of the KiVa anti-bullying program for Grades 1-9. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79, 796-805. For further information about these research projects please contact: Suzy Clarkson (s.clarkson@bangor.ac.uk) Elin Williams (e.f.williams@bangor.ac.uk) or telephone 01248 383758 KiVa Wales website: http://www.kivaprogram.net/wales * KESS is the European Social Fund Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarship programme ** CEIT is the Children’s Early Intervention Trust, registered charity no 5907566