Violence Prevention: Evaluation of an Adapted Curriculum

The Prothrow-Stith violence prevention curriculum for high school students was adapted and presented to middle school students. An adaptation in materials, reading level and administration should not adversely effect the outcome of program participation, as the concepts that form the foundation of this curriculum are applicable to all ages. The essential question addressed in this study is as follows: Is the adapted curriculum effective? The evaluation instrument used for both pretests and posttest showed three distinct sections that were composed of general knowledge statements; statements that indicated an attitudinal predisposition toward violence; and statements that indicated a behavioral predisposition toward violence. After factor analysis the general knowledge section showed three grouping factors: factual knowledge, murder knowledge and alcohol knowledge. Factor analysis of the attitude section yielded two factors: a positive attitudinal predisposition toward violence and a negative predisposition toward violence. Seven hypotheses were tested. The analysis showed in a significant difference between the pretest and posttest for all respondents as an increase in factual knowledge; a decrease in negative attitude predisposition toward violence; and, a decrease in behavioral predisposition toward violence. There was a significant difference between the participating schools; there was no significant difference between the ages; and, results for females differed significantly from those for males. The findings imply that the adaptation of the Prothrow-Stith high school violence prevention curriculum is effective with lower grades. Designers of violence prevention, problem solving, peace making, conflict resolution and other prevention programs could look to the results of this evaluation when considering the factors that influence general knowledge, attitude and behavior toward violence. Differences between the sexes indicate an opportunity to tailor interventions and prevention strategies that stress the positive aspects of resolving conflict with peaceful, non-aggressive approaches. More detailed examination of the age differences may yield information about the influences that strengthen the quality of resilience or that indicate shifts in attitude and behavior in younger children.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2000

Author dc:creator

• Walker, Sharon Lee

Contributors dc:contributor

• Eve, Susan Brown
• Evenson, Thomas L.
• Ingman, Stanley R.
• McKee, William
• Seward, Rudy Ray

• Prothrow-Stith, Deborah, 1954- Violence prevention.
• School violence -- Prevention -- Study and teaching (Middle school)
• violence prevention
• factual knowledge
• school violence
• predisposition
• Prothrow-Stith curriculum

Statement dc:rights

• Public
• Copyright
• Walker, Sharon Lee
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 47244425
untcat: b2302318
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2440/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc2440

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc2440