Current Research

Current Research

Covert Bullying – Its Nature and Prevalence in Australian Schools

Project Duration:
21 May 2007 to 30 April 2008

Funding body:
Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST)

Principal Investigators:
CHPRC Contributors
Prof Donna Cross
Dr Kevin Runions
Stacey Waters
Thérèse Shaw
Prof Nadine Henley
Erin Erceg

TNS Consultants
Rhonda Zapelli
Mark Francas
Penny Darbyshire
Mathew Densten
Ben Selwyn

Project Director:
Melanie Epstein

Outline and Rationale:
The Child Health Promotion Research Centre at Edith Cowan University and TNS Social Research have been contracted by the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) to conduct research into indirect or covert bullying in Australian schools.

Bullying behaviour between students occurs to some extent and in varying types in all schools.  These behaviours are not accidental; they are intentional, unjustified, and repeated actions towards someone who cannot effectively stop these from happening.  While direct bullying such as hitting, punching, kicking, hurtful name calling and teasing are relatively easy for schools to observe and address, the more indirect or covert forms of bullying are far more difficult to detect and therefore understand.  Generally indirect or covert bullying is thought to involve the use of third parties; spreading gossip; hurtful stories or rumours; deliberately excluding or enforcing social isolation; mean looks; and may even involve the use of communicative technology such as malicious SMS messages, or hurtful messages via the internet (e.g.: email, webpage or website, chat room, instant messages, game room or other game site or message board). 

This project aims to improve the knowledge and understanding of covert bullying among primary school and secondary school students to ultimately determine effective policy and practice to address this problem

Objectives:
This research project aims to:

  1. Improve our understanding of the nature and extent of covert bullying among students aged 8-15 years, and to assess the social, emotional, cognitive and behavioural impact it has on its victims:
    • How serious is the issue in metropolitan and rural Australia (prevalence and insidiousness);
    • At what age does it begin, what form(s) does it take, when does it usually occur, is it associated with other forms of bullying, who is involved, what do young people think are the causes and to what extent are multiple contexts used (what are the primary mediums, and is there a progression);
    • Who are the victims, how do they feel, and how does it affect them (emotionally, socially, physically, behaviourally);
    • Are specific forms of covert bullying more prevalent for girls than for boys?  If so, are there age-related patterns in this gender pattern?
    • How frequently young people witness covert bullying happening and how do they feel about it, what has been their response, and how do they think the victim feels;
  2. Increase our knowledge and understanding of the degree to which youth themselves have participated in, or been offenders of, covert bullying as well as the reasons for their involvement:
    • When, how often and why have they been involved;
    • How do they rationalise their behaviour, what do they gain from it and how do they feel about it;
    • When does it happen, do they talk to anyone about it, etc.;
  3. Determine what youth believe would be the best form(s) of support for preventing and reducing the impact of covert bullying, to what extent do they believe parents, teachers, and other adults can intervene effectively, and what their main fears are regarding talking to adults.
  4. Assess school staffs’ understanding of the problem and the best means of dealing with it.
  5. Review national/international intervention literature on covert bullying to identify effective strategies which could be used by parents/schools.

Key Outcomes / Findings:
The Covert Bullying Project is currently in its first year and as such, no data has been collected.

Benefits of the Research:
This project will contribute to in-depth understanding of the nature of covert bullying; the prevalence of covert bullying in Australia and will provide recommendations for  policy and practice to address covert bullying at a whole school level and within the context of the National Safe Schools Framework.

For further information about this project please contact the Project Director, Melanie Epstein on 9273 8496 or email m.epstein@ecu.edu.au

 
Child Health Promotion Research Centre Edith Cowan University