Session Information
SES F 06, Paper Session
Paper Session
Contribution
Cyber bullying, as a recent topic, attracted the attention of researchers because, those who engage in cyber bullying and those who are being cyber bullied reported to have serious psychological problems such as feeling disappointed, anger, sadness, isolation, helplessness, depression, anxiety, family and peer problems (Hinduja & Patchin, 2006). Moreover, Ybarra, Espelage and Mitchell (2007) investigated the effects of cyber bullying and reported that cyber bullies and cyber bully/victim abused alcohol and marijuana and other harder inhalants. According to researchers cyber bullying might be hurtful due to its effects’ extension at victim’s home by a computer and mobile phones (Kowalski, Limber, & Agatston, 2008). The disturbing message can be seen or read again and again by the victim and escape might not be possible from them because it can happen anytime and anywhere (Campbell, 2005; Li, 2005).
While cyber bullying is so important with its effects on victims, current literature cannot produce strong theoretical basis for reasons, occurrences or results of cyber bullying. The previously conducted studies were carried out by utilizing quantitative methods in general, and there is not in depth information about this developing phenomenon. Cyber bullying was defined as “an aggressive, intentional act carried out by a group or individual, using electronic forms of contact, repeatedly and over time against a victim who cannot easily defend him or herself” (Smith, Mandavi, Carvalho, & Tippett, 2005, p. 6). Results of the prevalence studies indicated that adolescents from several countries such as Canada, USA, Belgium, England and Turkey experiences cyber bullying either as a cyber victim or cyber bully or both as a cyber victim and cyber bully. The previously conducted quantitative studies investigated the relation of cyber bullying to some demographic variables such as gender (e.g., Vandebosch, Van Cleemput, Mortelmans & Walrave, 2006), age (e.g., Kowalski & Limber, 2007), socioeconomic status (e.g., Syts, 2004), frequency use of information–communication tools (e.g., Finn, 2004). In addition, the relationship of cyber bullying to moral approval of bullying, perceived school climate and perceived peer support (Williams & Guerra, 2007) and the role of adult monitoring of the Internet use (Mason, 2008; Vandebosch et al., 2006) was investigated.
Investigating how Turkish adolescents define cyber bullying and knowing about their motivations is important in order to prevent adolescents from engaging in cyber bullying and keeping the potential victims safe. By knowing what is perceived as cyber bullying by adolescents and why adolescents engage in cyber bullying, the students who are cyber bully or in the risk of being cyber bully can be determined by parents and educators. Additionally, the results of the study will give information on the perception of high school students about what kind of people cyber bully others and what kind of people are cyber bullied.
The aim of this study is to investigate the perception of cyber bullying among Turkish high school students considering its occurrence, reasons, characteristics of cyber bullies and victims, and results of cyber bullying (thoughts, feelings, responses to cyber bullying event) by a qualitative approach.
Method
Expected Outcomes
References
Campbell, M. A. (2005). Cyber bullying: An old problem in a new guise? Australian Journal of Guidance and Counseling, 15, 68-76. Finn, J. (2004). A survey of online harassment at a university campus. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19, 468-483. Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2006). Cyberbullying emotional and psychological consequences. Retrieved June 21, 2007 from, http://www.cyberbullying.us/cyberbullying_emotional_consequences.pdf. Kowalski, R.M. & Limber, S.P. (2007). Electronic bullying among middle school students. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41, 22-30. Li, Q. (2005). New bottle but old wine: A research of cyberbullying in schools. Computers in Human Behavior. Retrieved January 24, 2007 from, http://www.elsevier.com/locate/comphumbeh. Mason, K. L. (2008). Cyberbullying: A preliminary assessment for school personnel. Psychology in the Schools, 45, 323-348. Smith, P., Mandavi, J., Carvalho, M., & Tippett, N. (2005). An investigation into cyberbullying, its forms, awareness and impact, and the relationship between age and gender in cyberbullying (A Report to the Anti-Bullying Alliance). University of London, Goldsmiths College, Unit for School and Family Studies, p.6. Retrieved January 24, 2007 from http://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/downloads/pdf/cyberbullyingreport final230106_000.pdf. Syts, Y. (2004). Beyond the schoolyard: Examining electronic bullying among Canadian youth. Unpublished master’s thesis, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario. Vandebosch, H., Van Cleemput, K., Mortelmans, D., & Walrave, M. (2006). Cyberbullying among youngsters in Flanders. Retrieved June 16, 2007 from http://www.viwta.be/files/cyberbullying%20executive%20overwiev.pdf Williams, K. R. & Guerra, N. G. (2007). Prevalence and predictors of Internet bullying. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41, 14-21. Ybarra, M L., Espelage, D.L., & Mitchell, K.J. (2007). The co-occurence of Internet harassment and unwanted sexual solicitation victimization and perpetration: Associations with psychosocial indicators. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41, 31-41.
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