WHITLOWE R. GREEN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Doctoral Proposal Defense Announcement
ABSTRACT
An Investigation of Middle School African American Girls’ Bullying Experiences and
Perceptions of School Climate
(January 2016)
Frances Watson-Hester, B.S., Grambling State University
M.Ed., Texas Southern University;
Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Patricia Hoffman-Miller
The purpose of this study is three-fold, first to quantify middle school African American
girls’ bullying experiences and perceptions of school climate. Second, the study, which will take
place in a Southeast Texas School District, will seek to determine if any relationship exists
between students’ perception of school climate and their bulling experiences. Finally, the study
will examine if there is a relationship between the students’ perception of bullying and their
perception of school climate.
Bullying, according to Senn (2007), is a pattern of repetitive behavior that intends to hurt
someone else and usually involves an imbalance of power. Texas law defines bullying as
engaging in verbal or written expression through physical conduct or electronic means that
occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, or in a vehicle
operated by the district.
Previous research suggests that there is an increased risk for depression, anxiety, feelings
of hopelessness, and low self-esteem for both the bullies and victims (Swearer, Grills, Haye &
Cary, 2004), in the nation’s school system. During the 2009-2010 academic school year, Harlow
and Roberts (2010) reported over 12% of African American middle school students received
suspensions for bullying behavior. Nearly 30% of students in public and private schools in the
United States reported moderate to frequent involvement in bullying: 10.6% reported being
victims, 13% reported being bullies, and 6.3% reported being engaged in both (Nansel,
Overpeck, Pilla, Ruan, Simons-Morton, & Scheidt 2001).
The following research questions will drive this study:
1. What is the level of perception of bullying among middle school African American girls?
2. What are the frequencies of the types of bullying experienced by middle school African
American girls?
3. What is the level of perception of school climate among middle school African American
girls?
4. Is there a relationship between middle school African American girls’ perception of
school climate and their bullying experience?
5. Is there a relationship between middle school African American girls’ perception of
bullying and their perception of school climate?
This research will use Vygotsky’s Social Learning Theory as the theoretical framework. The
researcher will utilize a correlational research designs and will use purposive sampling
techniques to select 200 – 300 middle school African American girls from a suburban
southeastern, Texas school district.
In order to answer the researcher questions, the researcher will use the Statistical Package
for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to conduct both descriptive and inferential statistics.
Reference
Harlow, K., & Roberts, R. (2010). An Exploration of the Relationship between Social and
Psychological Factors and Being Bullied. Children & Schools, 32(1), 15-26. Retrieved
ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1926309671).
Nansel, T. R., Overpeck, M., Pilla, R. S., Ruan, W. J., Simons-Morton, B., & Scheidt, P. (2001).
Bullying behaviors among U.S. youth: Prevalence and association with psychosocial
adjustment. Journal of the American Medical Association, 285, 2094-2100.
Senn, D. (2006). Creative Approaches for Counseling Individual Children. Chapin, SC: Youth
Light, Inc. Retrieved from www.youthlightbooks.com
Swearer, S. M., Grills, A. E., Haye, K. M., & Cary, P. T. (2004). Internalizing problems in
students involved in bullying and victimization: Implications for intervention. In D. L.
Espelage & S. M. Swearer, (Eds.). Bullying in American schools: A social-ecological
perspective on prevention and intervention. (pp. 63-83). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum
Associates.
Department: Educational Leadership and Counseling
Date: January 28, 2016
Time: 1:00 pm
Location/Room: 217 Delco
Dissertation Chair:
Patricia Hoffman-Miller, Ph.D.
Committee Members:
Lisa Thompson, Ph.D.
Abdul Pitre, Ph.D.
Kimberly McLeod, Ed.D.