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theses

PROBLEM: This study investigated the short-term effects that being a victim of harassment, intimidation, and bullying (“HIB”) had on the attendance and achievement scores of 4th and 5th grade students for the school year in which the incident occurred. The study answered the following research question: Is being a victim of HIB associated with higher absenteeism and/or lower test scores, as measured by performance on the New Jersey Skills and Assessment Test (“NJASK”)? METHOD: This study employed a quasi-experimental design, with a sample of 126 students over the course of two full school years. Students were identified as either victims or nonvictims of harassment, intimidation, and bullying within a given school year. Other variables considered included gender, ethnicity, free/reduced lunch status, and students’ attendance and NJASK scores for the previous year. Regression analysis was used to estimate the effects of victim status on unexcused absences, unexcused tardies, NJASK Language Arts scores, and NJASK Math scores. FINDINGS: The study found that being a victim of HIB was not statistically significant in its impact on attendance or NJASK scores. The only finding from the research was that male victims had an increased number of absences. SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides information for the Happyville School District, specifically the Downtown Elementary School Intervention and Referral Service committee, which designates support for students. The finding that male victims have an increased level of absences will assist in implementing support measures for this specific population. The Downtown Elementary School, and other elementary schools in the Happyville School District, can use this study’s analysis as a template for analyzing the short term effects of HIB victimization on attendance and achievement.

ETD_6447

Ed.D.

Includes bibliographical references

by Shannon L. Medeiros

doi:10.7282/T3V40X0D

ETD doctoral

The author owns the copyright to this work.