How Should Schools Measure Bullying, Aggression, and Student Resilience?
If school leaders want to reduce aggression, they first need to know exactly what behaviors are taking place.
Simply asking students, “Have you been bullied?” doesn’t necessarily give you that answer.
“Bullying” has become one of the most abstract and confusing words we use when trying to discern an actual problem and help a student.
The Problem With Asking, “Have You Been Bullied?”
Asking someone whether or not they’ve been bullied is incredibly subjective.
There are multiple definitions of the word “bullying,” the legal definition used in investigations changes from state to state, and some school districts have their own criteria in addition to state law.
Even students and grown-ups can mean completely different things when they use the same word.
“Bullying” can be used to describe everything from eye-rolling or excluding someone from a party to someone getting beaten at the bus stop.
Those are obviously very different problems.
And they require very different responses.
If all of those behaviors are grouped under a single word, it becomes difficult for school leaders to determine what is actually happening.
Measure the Behavior Instead
The SQUABBLES® Schoolwide Survey was designed to move beyond the confusing word “bullying” and look more specifically at aggressive behavior and students’ resilience to those behaviors.
It measures 10 categories:
- Verbal Aggression
- Physical Provocation
- External Locus of Control
- Rude Humor
- Helplessness
- Social Exclusion
- Problem Solving
- Internal Locus of Control
- Criticism
- Gossip/Rumors
Instead of simply knowing that students believe they’re being “bullied,” administrators can begin seeing where specific areas of strength and weakness exist.
That makes the data much more useful.
Measure Resilience, Not Just Aggression
Identifying aggression is only half of the picture.
Schools should also understand how effectively students are responding to those challenges.
Two students can experience a similar behavior and respond completely differently.
One may be able to manage their emotions, solve the social problem, and move forward.
Another may feel completely helpless.
That’s why the SQUABBLES® Schoolwide Survey also measures resilience.
The goal isn’t simply to ask:
“Is aggression occurring?”
We also want to know:
“How equipped are students to deal with it?”
That gives school leaders much more useful information for determining what support is actually needed.
Turn Survey Data Into a Game Plan
Data is only useful if you do something with it.
SQUABBLES® Institute provides recommendations based on the data gathered through the SQUABBLES® Schoolwide Survey, including areas where classroom curriculum may need to be emphasized.
The data can also help schools understand which students may need additional Tier 2 or Tier 3 supports within their Multi-Tiered System of Supports.
Instead of applying the exact same intervention to everyone, schools can respond according to actual needs.
Some students may need help identifying aggression.
Others may need to improve emotional regulation.
Some may struggle with problem solving.
Others may need individualized help peacefully resolving recurring social conflicts.
That is what data-driven prevention and intervention should look like.
Measure Your Baseline—and Your Growth
It’s also incredibly important to measure change over time.
If your school implements a program designed to reduce aggression and raise resilience, administrators should be able to answer a simple question:
Did it work?
A pre-program assessment gives schools a baseline.
A post-program assessment allows administrators to see where students improved and where additional growth is needed.
That information can guide curriculum, professional development, interventions, future programming, and even funding decisions.
You shouldn’t have to guess whether your program is making a difference.
Measure it.
Stop Assessing by Assumption
Schools already collect enormous amounts of data.
When it comes to social aggression, that data should be specific enough to help administrators make better decisions.
Rather than asking only whether students are being “bullied,” identify the behaviors taking place, determine how students are responding to them, and use that information to build your game plan.
Find Out What’s Really Happening at Your School
The SQUABBLES® Schoolwide Survey measures specific areas of aggression and student resilience so that your team can identify strengths, uncover areas of need, and measure growth.
