A research on the effect of negotiation (problem solving) and mediation training programme on the conflict resolutin skills of the students in fourth and fifth grades of primary education

Within this research, the effect of the negotiation (problem solving) and mediation training programme on the conflict resolution and empathy skills of the students in fourth and fifth grades of primary education has been examined.Research has been carried out on three primary schools which are affiliated to the Ministry of National Education during the 2006-2007 education period. Pre-test, post-test, semi experimental design with the control group have been used within the research. In the scope of the research, negotiation (problem solving) and mediation training has been provided to the students of the experiment group for 16 weeks, but the control group has not been provided any training.Negotiation (problem solving) and mediation training programme consists of four parts. Understanding the nature of conflict, communication skills, anger management skills and negotiation and mediation skills as the conflict resolution skills.The aim of this research is to test whether the negotiation (problem solving) and mediation training programme has effect on the conflict resolution and empathy skills of the students in fourth and fifth grades of primary education. For this reason, the independent variable of the research is the negotiation (problem solving) and mediation education programme which was applied to the experiment group, and the dependent variables are conflict resolution and empathy skills.Before and after the negotiation (problem solving) and mediation training programme, Conflict Resolution Ability Scale and Scale of Empathy for Children have been applied to the experiment and control groups to test if there is any difference between conflict resolution and empathy skills of the experiment and control group. Two independent sampling t test and ANCOVA have been used in order to test if there is any significant difference between conflict resolution and empathy skills. Besides, effect of the experimental process has been observed by comparing the difference (gaining) points of the experiment and control groups.Statistical analyses results indicates that the students of the experiment group are more constructive for conflict resolution and applying less domination and avoidance strategies compared to the students those in the control group. No difference observed for the empathy skills of the students who were provided the negotiation (problem solving) and mediation training compared to the control group. Nevertheless, when the difference (gaining) points of the experiment and control groups have been evaluated, statistically significant difference in favor to the experiment group is observed.