Research on the effect of peer mediation training on elementary school student disputes

In this research, it is aimed to observe the effects of ?Peer Mediation Program? on the skills of 5th grade students resolving the disputes. The main goal of the research, is to search on the effects of ?Peer Mediation Program? on elementary school student disputesThe study was conducted in 2010-2011 academic year at two primary schools approved by Ministry of Education which are located in district of Izmir and Manisa. Both pre and post tests control groups were obtained half experimental patterns. Independent variable has indicated as ?Peer Mediation Program? where the dependent variable has taken as conflict resolution skills. ?Conflict Resolution Ability Scale? which was developed by Sarı (2005) was administered to all of participants in both sample and control groups.?Peer Mediation Program? consists of four major chapters. These are; understanding the nature of interpersonal conflicts, communication skills, anger management and interpersonal conflict resolution skills. The education program which includes 21 different activites implemented on the sample group students for two hours per week has continued for sixteen weeks. No training is given to the control group.The results for the experiment were obtained from 131 samples which are the 5th grade students of two public schools approved by Ministry of Education in 2010-2011 academic year. Statistical data was analyzed by using SPSS 15 for Windows Home Appliances and ANCOVA analysis was used while testing the significance level of conflict resolution skills between the sample and control groups.Depending on the statistical analysis, it has indicated significant differences between the sample group students?conflict resolution skills who applied ?Peer Mediation Program? and the students in control group. As a result, it can be said that ?Peer Mediation Program? has positive effect on gaining conflict resolution skills of 5th grades control group. In addition it has seen that the students in sample group use their skills regarding conflict resolution methods more than the ones in control group where they avoid the undesirable methods such as: compliance, avoidance and domination.The effects of the ?Peer Mediation Program? on the dispute of the students is studied in this research. There fore, peer mediation education program is applied to the fifth grade students. In this research students are choosen by their friends according to the application off sociometry which is given to the experimental group in the first term of the academic year 2010-2011. After 32 hours-discussion and peer mediation program is applied, 20 students (12 girls and 8 boys) are choosen as the mediators. Each week, by making a duty chart, two students of those 20 students are assigned to conduct and solve the conflicts and disputes among the students in classes in a peaceful way all throughout the second term of the 2010-2011 academic year.In this research, the meetings are arranged with the 20 students to discuss the personal experinces and the mediators. The oral datas are analyzed with the technique of content. The students who are educated as peer mediators try to solve the real conflicts that their peers have experienced by using mediator process levels. The results of the research shows that the mediators who have educated on peer mediation, apply mediation levels correctly and they can solve the peer conflicts.Key Words: Conflict, conflict resolution, negotiation, mediation, peer mediation.