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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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…

5. 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!

6. 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

7. 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%

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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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

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

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

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

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

18. 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…

19. 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!

20. 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’

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