Changing Attitudes to Dating-Violence – A game based intervention in schools
Author(s):
Anette Bolin (presenting / submitting) Emma Sorbring Bo Helsing
Conference:
ECER 2013
Format:
Paper

Session Information

05 SES 03, (Preventing) Bullying and Violence

Paper Session

Time:
2013-09-10
17:15-18:45
Room:
D-313
Chair:
Ruth Leitch

Contribution

Combating bullying, degrading treatment and discrimination is a key task for schools and within that task lays preventative work against violence between young people in intimate relations which sometimes is termed dating violence (National Agency for Education, 2011). This presentation focuses on the use of a computer game as a pedagogical tool which is scientifically tested with the aim to evidence the game as a tool to target learning objectives with regards to discrimination and degrading and violent behavior. ‘Adolescent dating violence’ refers to interpersonal violence which occurs during adolescent romantic relationships (Leen et al, 2013). Although current research has focused primarily on physical and sexual violence, it is typically agreed that such violence reflects a range of behaviors that includes physical, sexual, and psychological violence, and coercive control (Bowen et al 2013). Current international prevalence estimates vary considerably due to variations in definition, but broadly suggest that between 10% - 30% of both adolescent girls and boys experience physical violence in dating relationships.  The aim of this EU project was to design a primary intervention using innovative Serious Games technologies aimed at raising awareness and knowledge about the nature and consequences of dating violence behaviors, as well as providing education regarding the appropriateness of responses to dating conflict scenarios, and avenues for help-seeking for those directly and indirectly affected by these issues.

Method

In Sweden, Great Britain, Belgium and Germany the game based intervention was tested in schools. Both experimental- (from those that toked part in the intervention) and control data were collected. This presentation is based on the data from the Swedish experimental- (n = 72) and control group (n = 55). Both girls and boys (16 years of age) took part in the study.

Expected Outcomes

Comparing the experimental group on the pre- and post-test measures indicated that the teenagers taking part in the intervention had significantly more knowledge about dating violence after the game than before. The experimental group spent about 1, 5 hour on two different occasions on the game. The experimental group also had significantly more negative attitudes towards aggression after taking part in the game than before. The control group did not differ between the pre- and the post-test. The testing of the game, the game itself and the practical use of the game will discussed in the presentation.

References

National Agency for Education (2011) Evaluation of anti-bullying methods. Report 353. Bowen, E., Holdsworth, E., Leen, E., Sorbring, E., Helsing, B., Jans, S., & Awouters, V. (2013) (In press). “If someone cheated on you, you must slap them across the face”: Northern European adolescent’s attitudes towards dating violence. Violence and Victims. Leen, E., Sorbring, E., Mawer, M., Holdsworth, E., Helsing, B., & Bowen, E. (2013). Prevalence, Dynamic Risk Factors and the Efficacy of Primary Interventions for Adolescent Dating Violence: An International Review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 18, 159 - 174.

Author Information

Anette Bolin (presenting / submitting)
University West
Trollhättan
University West, Sweden
University West, Sweden

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