Tarkan Kaçmaz

The effects of conflict resolution and peer mediation training on Turkish elementary school students’ conflict resolution strategies

The effectiveness of conflict resolution and peer mediation (CRPM) training among 10‐ and 11‐year‐old elementary school students was examined. The CRPM training program consisted of skills, such as understanding the nature of interpersonal conflicts, communication, anger management, negotiation and peer mediation. The research was carried out using pretest/posttest‐quasi‐experimental design. The sample included 591 students; 326 in the experiment and 265 in the control group. A self‐report questionnaire which consisted of four subscales (integrative/constructive, smoothing, forcing and withdrawing/avoidance) was used to collect data related to conflict resolution strategies. The CRPM training program significantly improved students’ ‘integrative/constructive’ conflict resolution strategy and reduced their ‘forcing’ and ‘withdrawing/avoidance’ strategies. However, no statistically significant difference was found in the ‘smoothing’ strategy. When boys’ and girls’ results were examined separately, boys’ ‘integrative/constructive’ conflict resolution strategy scores increased after the training, while their ‘forcing’ scores decreased. CRPM training was not found to be effective in girls.

The effects of conflict resolution and peer mediation training on primary school students' level of aggression

This study aims to analyse the effects of conflict resolution and peer mediation (CRPM) training on the levels of aggression of 10–11-year-old Turkish primary school students. The study was conducted using a quasi-experimental design. The experimental group of the study included 347 students (173 girls, 174 boys), and the control group had 328 students (158 girls, 170 boys). Data for the research were collected using the ‘Aggression Scale’. Data analyses revealed that CRPM training was effective in lowering the aggression scale scores of the students. Boys seem to have benefited more from the training than girls. CRPM training was found to reduce student aggression which may lead to more constructive, restorative and peaceful behaviour in classroom and school settings. Since less energy and time will have to be allocated to resolving problem behaviour, academic success may increase, and a safer school atmosphere may be attained.