KiVa – Findings from recent Research Reported by Professor Christina Salmivalli University of Turku, Finland

Topics covered in this presentation: The importance of teachers, principals and the fidelity in the way KiVa lessons are delivered The fidelity of the interventions from the KiVa team KiVa progress over time

Implementation and outcome Haataja et al., 2014 The (teacher-reported) implementation of student lessons in a classroom is associated with the magnitude of change in (student-reported) victimization in that classroom preparation of lessons the proportion of tasks delivered directly relates to the amount of reduction in victimization Important finding from a PhD study at the University of Turku – a strong correlation between the commitment of teachers to do the lessons well and student reports of reduced bullying in that class.

Different implementers of KiVa Haataja et al., 2015 Message here underlines the importance of the principal in acting to sustain energy. Beginning high and keeping the initial level [High]: Believing in program effectivenss, Principal support, Good preparation of lessons Even high believers fall of with lessons in last term. Some important messages get lost/not covered. One school year, from August to May…

The challenge therefore Every school year, the activity in implementing the student lessons decreases across the year the average level remains satisfactory, BUT many important things are meant to be brought up during the last lessons!

The Evidence-based KiVa Team Process Screening (using Form 1) Kiva Team discussions Classroom teacher meets with some classmates Follow-up meetings Confronting & nonconfronting approaches

KiVa teams: What students say Asked students who participated in a meeting because they had bullied someone or because they had been bullied. Students’ report on the success of meetings with KiVa teams (collected in annual student surveys) Bullies primary school 87.8% secondary school 67.0% Victims primary school 76.4% secondary school 70.2%

% victims and bullies who had been in the KiVa team meeting and found it effective; change from 2011 to 2015

KiVa Team: Which method is the most effective? Each year we ask the KiVa teams: Which method you’ve used in tackling bullying? How effective the KiVa team discussions have been? Methods described in the KiVa manual: Confronting method Nonconfronting method But they can also choose to answer: C or NC, depending on the case C or NC, depending on the team member Adapted method, not clearly either of the above I don’t know

Most used methods, 2009-2015 Depends on case Confronting Adapted Non- Don’t know

Adapted methods… Third highest method over 6 years research! Different adaptions become more widely used over time, not clearly confronting or non-confronting Follow up meetings less likely

School teams are most satisfied with the discussions when … They used Confronting or Nonconfronting approach They organized systematic follow-ups School teams who are unaware of which method is used have less cases handled do not organize follow-up meetings perceive discussions as relatively uneffective

Students are most satisfied with the discussions in schools where … Systematic follow-ups were organized

Long Term Effects and Mechanisms of Change KiVa effects accumulate over time Theory of Change

Long-term effects: Proportion of students who have been bullied/who are bullying others repeatedly in KiVa schools 2009 - 2016 Data that can be trusted, an incremental decline in bullying incidents. Change takes time.

Proportion of students being bullied repeatedly, Finnish KiVa schools, 2009-2015

How does KiVa work? ”Theory of change” behind KiVa: The program makes bullying behavior less rewarding for the perpetrators by changing bystander responses and showing that adults are willing and able to take action against bullying Putting the theory into action…

The importance of implementation KiVa is a bit like a vacuum cleaner – a useful tool to reduce bullying behaviours – but like vacuuming – if you don’t use it the dust/bullying builds up again. So frequent use is required. Not a one-off spring clean!

Key Points for Consideration: Planning, preparation and satisfactory completion of lessons by all classes Screening tool (Form 1) used correctly and consistently by all teachers KiVa Team keep to the proven process using either confronting or non-confronting methods for discussion Importance of the principal and a Kiva ‘driver’

Research takeaways for your school What needs to be put in place for: - Leadership - The KiVa Team - Classroom lessons - Parents … ?