Assessing Middle School Teachers’ Perspectives on How to Intervene and Mitigate Student-to-Student Incidents of Bullying and Cyberbullying in One Middle School: A Case Study

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the insights of 10 middle school teachers on how to curb incidents of bullying in their work place. In addition, a focus group consisting of four teachers honed in on their perspectives on how to intervene and prevent student-to-student incidents of bullying and cyber bullying in one middle school in Western United States. The study’s research questions explored teachers’ perspectives in witnessing bullying and cyber bullying in their classrooms and the strategies they utilized to identify and effectively intervene to prevent these harassing behaviors. The theoretical framework of social cognitive theory supported this exploratory qualitative case study. The theory demonstrated how students learn and derive meaning from their culture and environment. Data were collected from 10 purposely selected participants and four purposely selected members of a focus group through personal interviews and collection of documents. Data analysis was achieved by coding, categorizing and the development of themes or patterns. Thematic analysis revealed that teachers and parents played an imperative role in intervention and prevention of bullying and cyber bullying. Inflicting physical harm, name calling, teasing, and cyber bullying were identified as the common types of bullying in the middle school. Given all the reported negative outcomes associated with bullying and cyber bullying, very serious attention is called for, from teachers and all stakeholders, for intervention and prevention of these harassing behaviors.