The impact of a peer-based student conflict management training program in a middle school

Abstract

The major purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of an experimental Peer-based Conflict Management Training Program in a middle school of South-Central Texas. The purpose of the training program is directed toward empowering students in such a way that they become responsible, capable contributors in resolving their own conflicts, and additionally that they learn how to effectively intervene and assist others in resolving their conflicts. As a result of the program, unproductive conflicts among students are reduced, thus contributing to more effective teaching and learning. The Peer-based Conflict Management Training Program emphasizes an important dimension in school culture as the responsibility of resolving school conflicts is shifted from adults to young adults. Also, it offers school administrators a more appropriate and effective alternative to deal with conflict in the school setting than expulsion, suspension, and detention. The results of the study revealed the extent of improvements in students' attitudes about conflict, improvement in their self-esteem, and improvement in their behavior after participation in the program. A sample of 42 students (6th, 7th, and 8th grades) was selected from an urban middle school's population to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. The Statistical Analysis System (SAS) was used to perform the analysis of covariance to test the difference between two groups on dependent variables of self-esteem, conflict attitudes, and deviant behavior of students. Three instruments (Piers-Harris Scale; Benenson's Survey Questionnaire; Brown and Hamill Teacher Rating Scale) were used to collect the data. Test results were analyzed at the 0.05 level of significance. Based on the data obtained and interpretation of subsequent analyses, the following conclusions were drawn. 1) The Peer-based Conflict Management Training Program had significantly improved student knowledge of constructive approaches to conflict management...