PROGRAM EVALUATION & RESEARCH

Schools Program Research

Efficacy of Restorative Justices Practices in Schools

It is an accepted truth that discipline in schools is necessary to maintain order and facilitate learning.  For many years discipline at school came in the form of highly punitive measures including physical punishment, spanking or other ways of causing physical pain.  Until the last quarter of the 20th century corporal punishment was generally considered an acceptable way for schools to mete out punishment.  However, corporal punishment teaches little and only acts as a deterrent to future misbehavior if students refrain from misbehavior to avoid further physical pain; it does nothing to teach students where they went wrong, who they harmed or how to make better choices in the future. 

An alternative to corporal punishment, restorative justice, is more effective than punitive disciplinary methods in maintaining order, teaching self-control and recreating schools as places of peaceful learning excellence.  Although restorative justice is not a cure-all for school discipline problems, it has proved to be highly effective in encouraging social and emotional learning among children because it helps them develop empathy, problem-solving and communication skills, and encourages the growth of healthy relationships.    For more info ... 

Efficacy of Peer Mediation / Playground Conflict Managers

Peer mediation is widely defined as: “a structured process that takes place in the school in which a student trained to mediate conflicts acts as a neutral and impartial third party to assist two or more students to negotiate an integrative resolution to their conflict.”

Peer Mediation Programs

Research Supporting the Implementation and Use of Peer Mediation Programs

• Almost all of the research studying peer mediation programs shows that there are some benefits to implementing these programs including:
  • Reduced numbers of out-of-school suspensions
  • Fewer disciplinary issues being delegated to teachers and principles, leaving more time for teachers to teach academic material due to a reduced need for behavioral interventions.
  • The development of pro-social behaviors for at-risk students who undergo peer mediation training.
• A majority of the mediations studied in the current research have been proven to be successful, resulting in fewer conflicts within the school and improved morale among the students.
• Interestingly, skills that students learn during conflict mediation training have been shown to transfer to their lives at home, proving that this training extends from school into larger society.

Research Discouraging the Implementation and Use of Peer Mediation Programs

• Some studies suggest that many peer mediators are not properly trained and are largely disliked by their peers because they are viewed as policemen.
• Research indicates that peer mediators are not able to effectively mediate all types of conflict, resulting in the more severe conflicts still needing to be handled by teachers or principles.
• One study indicates that there is not enough solid research on peer mediation programs to prove that they work.
• One study shows that peer mediation training encroaches on teaching time and that these programs are not cost effective.

For additional information and research references...

Program Activity