The effect of "We Can Solve Our Conflicts Conflict Resolution Training Program" on conflict resolution skills

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the "We Can Resolve Conflicts Conflict Resolution" training program on conflict resolution skills among second-grade primary school students and to reveal the effectiveness of this experience for the students. The study was conducted using a single-group pretest-posttest experimental design, and employed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach, wherein the quantitative data were supported by qualitative data. Quantitative data were collected using a conflict resolution skills scale and conflict scenarios, while qualitative data were gathered through a semi-structured student interview form. The study group consisted of 16 second-grade students attending a public primary school in a province in the Western Black Sea region. The conflict resolution skills scale and conflict scenarios were administered to the students as both a pretest and posttest. The "We Can Resolve Our Conflicts" conflict resolution training program, consisting of 21 sessions over 8 weeks, was implemented for students with two hours per week. At the end of the implementation period, interviews were conducted to determine how the students perceived the process. Data collected before and after the intervention were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, a nonparametric statistical method, and the qualitative data were subjected to content analysis. The effect size was calculated to determine the effectiveness of the program. The findings indicate that the "We Can Resolve Conflicts Conflict Resolution" program significantly enhanced the students' conflict resolution skills with a high effect size. Following the program, there was a decrease in destructive conflict resolution behaviors and increase in the use of constructive conflict resolution strategies. Furthermore, students reported enjoying the implemented educational program, a decrease in violence, and increase in the ability of anger control. The study concludes with several practical recommendations like implementing this program in primary schools, including conflict resolution training in the educational curricula, providing educator training for teachers, and establishing "conflict resolution clubs" as social clubs. For researchers, it is recommended to conduct longitudinal studies with different age groups, to develop conflict resolution training programs especially for lower primary school grades, and examine the effectiveness of conflict resolution programs on different variables.