Cyber-Bullying: A Brief Research Proposal

Introduction

Internet usage in children and adolescents has been increasing in a steadily fashion in the past number of years and with the increase in internet usage, a new form of bullying has developed – Cyber bullying. Cyber bullying can be defined as “the electronic posting of mean-spirited messages about a person,” (Merriam-Webster, 2012). This form of bullying can come through various mediums including but not limited to text messages, emails, videos, and social networking sites. There is an overwhelming amount of information that defines cyber bullying, identifies the demographics of bullies and victims of cyber bullying, and identifies the outcomes of cyber bullying on victims. More focus needs to be placed on who the perpetrators of this form of violence are and how this form of violence is linked to traditional bullying. This will allow researchers and practitioners to move forward with research and implementation preventative methods and intervention once the problem has already occurred.

Current Literature

Study methodology shows that higher rates of cyber bullying involvement (either perpetrator, victim or both bully and victim) are reported in situations of which participants are asked about being involved in specific behaviours related to cyber bullying rather than being asked explicitly if they have been involved in cyber bullying (Mishna, Khourg-Kassabri, Gadalla, & Daciuk, 2012).

Demographically, it has been reported that boys are more likely than girls to be perpetrators of cyber bullying whereas girls are more likely than boys to be involved in both aspects of cyber bullying – the perpetrator and the victim (Mishna, Khourg-Kassabri, Gadalla, & Daciuk, 2012; Sengupta & Chaudhuri, 2011; Slonje & Smith, 2008...

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... Review, 34, 63-70.

Mishna, F., Saini, M., & Solomon, S. (2009). Ongoing and online: Children and youths perceptions of cyber bullying. Children and Youth Services Review, 31, 1222-1228.

Perren, S., Dooley, J., Shaw, T., & Cross, D. (2010). Bullying in school and cyberspace: Associations with depressive symptoms in Swiss and Australian adolescents. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 4 (28).

Raskauskas, J., & Stoltz, A.D. (2007). Involvement in traditional and electronic bullying among adolescents. Developmental Psychology, 43 (3), 564-575.

Sengupta, A., & Chaudhuri, A. (2011). Are social networking sites a source of online harassment for teens? Evidence from survey data. Children and Youth Services Review, 33, 284-290.

Slonje, R., & Smith, P.K. (2008). Cyberbullying: Another main type of bullying? Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 49, 147-154.