The effectiveness of an existing peer mediation program in a diverse, suburban elementary school was examined. Peer mediation was available to all students (N = 825). Three-year longitudinal data showed significant reductions in the school's out-of-school suspensions after implementation of the peer mediation program. Mediation training also resulted in significant mediator knowledge gains pertaining to conflict, conflict resolution, and mediation, which was maintained at 3-month follow-up. All mediation sessions (N = 34) were successful in resolving conflict, and mediators as well as participants viewed the peer mediation program as valuable.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American School Counselor Association. (2005). The ASCA national model: A framework for school counseling programs (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA:Author.
2.
BanduraA. (1969). Principles of behavior modification.New York:Holt, Rinehart, & Winston.
3.
BanduraA. (1973). Aggression: A social learning analysis.Englewood Cliffs, NJ:Prentice-Hall, Inc.
4.
BanduraA. (1977). Social learning theory.Englewood Cliffs, NJ:Prentice-Hall.
5.
BanduraA. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory.Englewood Cliffs, NJ:Prentice-Hall.
6.
BanduraA. (2001). Social cognitive theory: An agentive perspective.Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 1–26.
7.
BanduraA., & JourdenF. (1991). Self-regulatory mechanisms governing social comparison effects on complex decision making.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 941–951.
8.
BellS. K., ColemanJ. K., AndersonA., WhelanJ. P., & WilderC. (2000). The effectiveness of peer mediation in a low-SES rural elementary school.Psychology in the Schools, 37, 505–516.
9.
BordersL. D. (2002). School counseling in the 21st century: Personal and professional reflections.Professional School Counseling, 5, 180–185.
10.
CameronJ., & DupuisA. (1991). Lessons from New Zealand's first school mediation service: Hagley High School 1987-1989.Australian Dispute Resolution Journal, 2, 84–92.
11.
CarruthersW. L., SweeneyB., KmittaD., & HarrisG. (1996). Conflict resolution: An examination of the research literature and a model for program evaluation.The School Counselor, 44, 5–18.
12.
Conflict Resolution Education Network Standards Committee. (1996). Recommended standards for school-based peer mediation programs.Washington, DC:Association for Conflict Resolution.
13.
DebarysheB. D., & FryxellD. (1998). A developmental perspective on anger: Family and peer contexts.Psychology in the Schools, 35, 205–216.
14.
DevoeJ. F., KaufmanP. K., RuddyS. A., MillerA. K., PlantyM., SnyderT. D., et al. (2003). Indicators of school crime and safety:2003.Washington, DC:U.S. Department of Education Justice.
GrahamB. C., & PulvinoC. (2000). Multicultural conflict resolution: Development, implementation, and assessment of a program for third graders.Professional School Counseling, 3, 172–181.
17.
GuanciJ. A. (2002). Peer mediation: A winning solution to conflict resolution.Educational Digest, 67, 26–33.
18.
GuetzloeE. (1999). Violence in children and adolescents—a threat to public health and safety: A paradigm of prevention.Preventing School Failure, 44, 21.
19.
HadleyR. G., & MitchellL. K. (1995). Counseling research and program evaluation.Pacific Grove, CA:Brooks/Cole.
20.
HammondS. (2000). Using psychometric tests. In BreakwellG. M., HammondS, & Fife-SchawC. (Eds.), Research methods in psychology (2nd ed., pp. 175–210). London:Sage.
21.
HansonM. K. (1994). A conflict resolution/student mediation program: Effects on student attitudes and behaviors.ERS Spectrum, 12, 9–14.
22.
HiebertB. (1997). Integrating evaluation into counseling practice.Canadian Journal of Counseling, 31, 112–126.
23.
HouserR. (1998). Counseling and educational research.Thousand Oaks, CA:Sage.
24.
HumphriesT. L. (1999). Improving peer mediation programs: Student experiences and suggestions.Professional School Counseling, 3, 13–20.
25.
JohnsonD. W., & JohnsonR. T. (2001). Peer mediation in an inner-city elementary school.Urban Education, 36, 165–178.
26.
JohnsonD. W., JohnsonR. T., DudleyB., & AcikgozK. (1994). Effects of conflict resolution training on elementary school students.Journal of Social Psychology, 134, 803–817.
27.
JohnsonD. W., JohnsonR. T., DudleyB., & MagnusonD. (1995). Training elementary school students to manage conflict.Journal of Social Psychology, 135, 673–686.
28.
JohnsonD. W., JohnsonR., MitchellJ., CottonB., HarrisD., & LouisonS. (1996). Conflict management in elementary school.Journal of Educational Research, 89, 280–285.
29.
National Institute for Literacy. (2005). Using research and reason in education: What is scientifically based research?Jessup, MD:Author.
30.
OlweusD. (1995). Bullying or peer abuse at school: Facts and intervention.Current Directions in Psychological Science, 4, 196–200.
31.
PiagetJ. (1970). Science of education and the psychology of the child.New York:Viking.
32.
PowellK. E., Muir-McClainL., & HalasyamaniL. (1996). A review of selected school-based conflict resolution and peer mediation projects.Peer Facilitator Quarterly, 13, 31–38.
33.
SchellenbergR. (2000). Aggressive personality: When does it develop and why?Virginia Counselors Journal, 26, 67–77.
34.
U.S. Department of Education. (1998). Early warning-timely response: A guide to safe schools.Washington, DC:U.S. Government Printing Office.
35.
U.S. Department of Education. (2000). Safeguarding our children: An action guide.Washington, DC:U.S. Government Printing Office.
