Facts & Statistics: How successful is Peer Mediation?
Peer mediation has been researched and studied over the years. Often times peer mediation programs are researched as a case study (one or more school programs at once). Below are some examples of case studies pertaining to school peer mediation programs.
Baltimore City Public Schools in 1996 (Kolan, 1999):
Two New York Schools (Churchill, 2013):
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A Large, Culturally Diverse, Urban Middle School (Cremin, 2007):
Highland Elementary School (Johnson et al, 1992):
- At a school that had developed and carried out a peer mentoring program, all 125 students involved in conflicts (within the 1992 school year) resolved through peer mediation, were pleased with the outcome
- Teachers reported that the amount of incidents involving conflict had decreased
Highland Elementary School (Johnson et al, 1992):
- After students received mediation training, teacher mediated conflicts decreased by 80 percent
- There were zero conflicts reported to the principal (within that school year)
- Students were videotaped mediating conflicts right after the training as well as six months after training; video records and student questionnaires showed a growth in student mediation skills
- Students reported using mediation skills at home and outside of schools
- A number of parents requested training for their students whom had not been involved in the program in the previous year and training for themselves
Ninth Grade Literature Class (Churchill, 2013):
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Maryland Middle School (Cremin, 2007):
- Maryland middle school began peer mediation program because of an increase in physical fights
- After one year using the program, student arguments and suspensions dropped
- Students and teachers indicated an increase in positive school climate after the peer mediation program began
- Students reported using peer mediation skills outside of school
East Hartford High School (Churchill, 2013):
Comments from Parent of a Student Mediator (Cremin, 2007):
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Unit for School and Family Studies at the University of London (Thompson et al, n.d.):
Difference Between a Successful and Unsuccessful Peer Mediation Program (Sellman, 2011):
- From 2008 to 2010, Unit for School and Family Studies analyzed peer support schemes in schools, such as buddy schemes, peer mediation, peer mentoring, peer listening, circle of friends, and bystander defender training
- Peer mediation reported having the highest effectiveness compared to buddy schemes, peer mentoring, peer listening, circle of firiends, and bystander defender training
- Through student and teacher survey, student mediators were reported to be great role models
Difference Between a Successful and Unsuccessful Peer Mediation Program (Sellman, 2011):
- Sellmen notes through his research that not all peer mediation programs are successful
- Peer mediation programs are often unsuccessful are because they do not communicate between members and reflect on their practices
- Successful peer mediation programs modify practices to fit the needs of their school
- Peer mediation programs need to have a large presence in the whole school, including staff and student supports, visuals, and events