A research on the effect of peer mediation training on the mediation skills of high school students

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of peer mediation training on mediation skills of high school students. In this study that was carried out in two stages, the first stage referred to as Study 1, the impact of peer mediation training was examined on the empathic tendency and aggression conflict resolution levels of high school students. İn study 1 pre-test and post-test control group experimental design was used. İndependent variable of the Study 1 is peer mediation training. Peer mediation training consists of 10 sessions. Peer mediation training which is composed of four basic skills include: Understanding of the concept of conflict, communication skills, anger management skills, and negotiation and mediation skills. In Study 2, the second phase of the study; the effect of mediation skills of students who had received the peer mediation training, in resolving actual student conflicts in a constructively and peacefully. In Study 2, the peer mediation process was evaluated. In Study 2, an opinion of peer mediators and conflicting parties regarding mediation experience and perceptions were consulted. Research was carried out in the academic year 2009-2010 in two Anatolian High School in the province of Denizli. Under Study 1, as a pre-test to the experimental and control groups, Resolving Conflict Scale, Empathic Tendency Scale, and Aggression Scales are applied. Then, only the students in the experimental group were given 10 sessions of peer mediation training. After that, Resolving Conflict Scale, Empathic Tendency Scale, and Aggression Scales are applied to the experimental and control groups as a final test. In the context of Study 2, only students in the experimental group trained as peer mediators, made mediation in their friends? actual student conflicts. For the evaluation of this process, the mediation forms used by students in the mediation sessions were used. Also interviews were conducted with the students as peer mediators and conflicting parties in mediation process, in order to determine their opinions and perceptions. In Study 1, 2X2 split-pilot described as a mixed pattern of two-factor analysis of variance for repeated measures ANOVA is used in order to test the effect of peer mediation training on level of conflict resolution and empathic tendency of high school students. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney U statistical methods were used in order to test the effect of peer mediation training to the level of aggression in high school students. In Study 2, content analysis, one of qualitative data analysis was used to investigate the effect of students trained as peer mediators for in resolving their friends? actual student conflicts in a constructive and peaceful way. As the findings Study 1 were analyzed, when the conflict resolution levels of the students in the experimental group and the control group were compared, it is observed that a statistically significant difference exist; there is a significant increase in the levels of conflict resolution of the students in the experimental group. When the levels of the pre-test and post-test empathic tendency of the students in the experimental and control groups, the difference between the two groups was not significant. In contrast, aggression levels were significantly lower in the students in the experimental group who received the peer mediation training, compared to students who did not. Examined the findings of Study 2, 39 student conflict has been resolved through peer mediation. It has been found that 97.5% of the conflicts resulted in a constructive agreement. Students mostly agreed by promising not to repeat the negative behavior. Views of 23 peer mediators on the peer mediation practices and experiences were investigated. Accordingly, peer mediators were very happy and pleased with themselves with their undertaken role of mediator; they felt responsible to their friends and to their new mission and their changes in behavior were found to be positive. Peer mediators faced difficulties from time to time while they were performing the steps of mediation, it is concluded that the appropriate coping strategies were used. Perceptions, opinions and experiences on the implementation of peer mediation of 41 students are examined, who received the help of mediation and participated the applications as the conflicting party peer mediation. Accordingly, students were pleased to participate in this process, they provided benefits by applying mediation, they would apply mediation again and they recommend it to their friends. Taken together the results of Study 1 and Study 2, peer mediation training can be said to be effective in developing conflict resolution skills of high school students and in reducing levels of aggression. In addition, peer mediation can be said to be an effective way of constructive and peaceful in actual high school student conflict resolution.