Discriminatory peer aggression among children as a function of minority status and group proportion in school context

Background Performance in high school science is a critical indicator of science literacy and regional competitiveness. Factors that influence science proficiency have been studied using national databases, but these do not answer all questions about variable relationships at the state level. School context factors and opportunities to learn science may vary geographically across states and interact with demographic composition variables. Purpose The purpose was to examine relationships between 10th-grade science proficiency and school context factors related to school environment, courses, and teachers. The moderating or interaction effects were examined for the school demographic composition variables of free/reduced lunch and minority percentages on variable relationships with science proficiency scores. Population and Unit of Analysis Data for this study consisted of all Missouri high schools in 2002 with a 10th-grade class size of at least 25 students (N = 423). Unit of analysis was the single school. Research Design This was a secondary data analysis study that used variables collected annually from all schools in Missouri. Multiple regression was used to examine relationships and moderating effects of school demographic composition. Predictor variables were grouped into three categories for school context: school environment, course-related, and teacher-related. The outcome variable was 10th-grade scientific attainment as measured by the Missouri state proficiency test in science. Results School context variables of higher dropout and mobility rates signaled greater risk factors, especially when moderated by free/reduced-price lunch percentage (FRL pct) and minority status. When FRL pct and Minority pct were higher, lower science proficiency scores were associated with elevated dropout rates. Similarly, greater mobility was related to lower science scores when school FRL pct was high. Some school-level variables interacted positively with FRL pct and minority status, which resulted in higher science scores. Schools with more FRL and minority students achieved higher science proficiency scores when they had a greater percentage of courses taught by highly qualified teachers and more teachers were regularly certified. Higher science scores were associated with greater percentages of master's degree teachers in schools with a larger percentage of minority students. A surprising finding revealed a geographic influence and demonstrates why testing for interactions can lead to better understanding of the data. Conclusions The findings are consistent with the status attainment literature and the theoretical arguments associated with geography and educational attainment in that socioeconomic status and minority status are important predictive factors in Missouri. As an extension of previous research, this study demonstrates that the school composition variables of FRL pct and Minority pct are significantly related to science proficiency in the 10th grade. Not only are they predictive of science proficiency scores, but they also interact with each other and moderate the relationships between school context variables and 10th-grade science scores. This study suggests that teacher quality in high-poverty majority-minority school settings remains an important policy target for reform and improvement.

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Machiavellianism in Children in Dutch Elementary Schools and Sports Clubs: Prevalence and Stability According to Context, Sport Type, and Gender

The Sport Psychologist ◽

10.1123/tsp.25.4.444 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 444-464 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Paul Baar ◽

Theo Wubbels

Keyword(s):

Elementary School ◽

Martial Arts ◽

Control Strategies ◽

School Context ◽

Resource Control ◽

Peer Aggression ◽

School Students ◽

Sports Clubs ◽

Sports Club ◽

Aggressive Children

The majority of research on children’s peer aggression has focused exclusively on the school context. Very few studies have investigated peer aggression in sports clubs. The prevalence and stability of peer aggression, prosocial behavior, and resource control strategies for children participating in three types of sports (martial arts, contact, and noncontact sports) were examined in two contexts: the sports club and the elementary school. We distinguished aggressive children with (i.e., Machiavellians) and without prosocial tendencies (i.e., coercive-aggressive children). Self-reports about experiences in the two contexts where gathered from 1,425 Dutch elementary school students (717 boys and 708 girls, fourth to sixth grade, mean age 11.25 years) who were participating in a sports club. We found roles for resource control strategies to be rather stable across contexts. The findings did not provide support for the “enhancement” assumption in these contexts with regard to martial arts participants.

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Peer Aggression and Sexual Harassment among Young Adolescents in a School Context: A Comparative Study between Finland and Turkey

International Journal of Educational Psychology ◽

10.17583/ijep.6853 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 199-221

Author(s):

Isik Zeliha Ulubas-Varpula ◽

Kaj Björkqvist

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Sexual Harassment ◽

Comparative Study ◽

Interaction Effect ◽

School Context ◽

Indirect Aggression ◽

Peer Aggression ◽

Young Adolescents ◽

Cyber Aggression

The study investigates peer aggression and sexual harassment among young adolescents in Finland and Turkey. Sex differences and the interaction effect between country of residence and sex are also examined. A questionnaire was completed by 1,747 adolescents (1, 268 from Finland, 479 from Turkey, Mage = 14.1). Six different forms of aggression (physical, verbal, indirect, cyber, verbal sexual harassment, physical sexual harassment) were examined. More adolescents from Turkey, and more boys, were found to be involved in aggression as both victims and perpetrators compared to adolescents from Finland and girls. The interaction effect was significant between country of residence and sex with being a boy from Turkey was related to having the highest involvement in cyber aggression, verbal sexual harassment, and physical sexual harassment, as both victim and perpetrator. Regarding victimization from indirect aggression, girls from Finland scored higher than Turkish girls, while boys from Turkey scored higher than Finnish boys.

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The Association Between the Contraction of Infectious Diseases and Aggressive Behavior at School: A Study Among Adolescents in Ejigbo, Lagos, Nigeria

European Journal of Social Sciences Education and Research ◽

10.26417/ejser.v7i1.p59-64 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 59

Author(s):

Olaniyi Makinde ◽

Kaj Björkqvist ◽

Karin Österman

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Typhoid Fever ◽

Aggressive Behavior ◽

Yellow Fever ◽

School Context ◽

Indirect Aggression ◽

Peer Aggression ◽

Cause And Effect ◽

Clear Association

The study investigated whether there is an association between the contraction of infectious diseases and peer aggression in a school context. The study was carried out among 284 adolescents (152 girls, 132 boys; M age = 14.2 years, SD = 1.7) in Ejigbo, Lagos, Nigeria. It was measured how frequently the adolescents had contracted malaria, yellow fever, typhoid fever, and cough - flu. Both the perpetration of and victimization from peer aggression at school was measured with an adapted version of the Direct - Indirect Aggression Scales. The results showed a clear association between the contraction of all measured infectious diseases and peer aggression. It is suggested that it is not a question of cause and effect, but that a third factor, possible overcrowding, is a risk factor for both outcomes.

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