Teacher utilisation of role-play to reduce bullying in a primary school setting

Abstract

This thesis documents a study to analyse teacher usage of a bullying prevention resource, entitled the Bullying Prevention Pack (BPP), which uses role-play and ensuing discussion thereof, to create awareness of and reduce bullying. The aim was to ascertain if teachers could use the BPP effectively in their classrooms to reduce bullying behaviour. The content of the BPP in its first incarnation was designed for the researcher's M.Ed. where the researcher delivered the full content and was successful according to student and teacher feedback. However, the implementation of the BPP may have been aided by the researcher's rich and diverse background in drama teaching and directing. For the Ph.D. study the researcher wanted to ascertain if the BPP resource could be used by non-drama specialist teachers to prevent bullying in their schools.