Children’s Perceptions of Violence: The Nature, Extent, and Impact of their Experiences
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RESEARCH INFORMATION SHEET DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: The purpose of this study is to examine children’s experiences of violence in New Zealand. There is limited New Zealand research data on children’s experiences of violence, that is being bullied, assaulted and harassed by schoolmates, family and non-family members. There are also limited data available on children’s indirect experiences of violence, that is, witnessing violent acts against others; whether on television or against family members, friends or strangers. Information regarding children’s experiences of violence is important as overseas research indicates that violence experienced by children has profound effects on their development, on their relationships with others and on their future mental health; for example their ability to function in their community, school and home environments. The intent of this study is to obtain data that are relevant and represent the current prevalence, incidence, impact and consequences of children’s experiences of violence in New Zealand. A representative national sampling will be conducted that will assess children’s perceptions of how often they have experienced violence, directly or indirectly, and how violence has and is affecting their lives. Information gained from the perspective of the child reflects Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which states the importance of hearing the child’s own voice. Advocacy for the rights of children must include valid information based on children’s views of their own experiences. Data from this sampling would provide a valid base from which government, communities, schools and parents could make decisions about ways to better protect children from violence and from which services and programmes could be identified or designed to effectively carry out these decisions. The study extends earlier research conducted by the Office of the Commissioner for Children on: Children’s Experiences of Violence (Maxwell & Carroll-Lind, 1996). Results from this study identified a variety of different types of children’s experiences of violence and provided a picture from the perspective of 11-13 year olds of hurtful and fearful events in their lives. The results indicate that children are vulnerable to events which are intended and preventable as well as to events that are unintended and unpreventable. This current study builds on the earlier research findings and will examine issues not addressed in the initial study, such as the incidence and prevalence of violence; the ways in which the actual violent events are experienced and coped with by the children and factors that need to be considered in order to create a safer world for children. A questionnaire designed to yield data regarding the prevalence and incidence of children’s experiences of violence and to obtain information about the impact and consequences of these violent events will be given to a representative national sampling of children aged 9-13 years. Objectives: The overall goal of the project is to examine children’s experiences of violence in New Zealand – at home and school; to use this information to create safer environments for children and to provide supports that will lessen the impact of violence when it is experienced. This overall goal will be achieved through the research questions which focus on the following four main themes or objectives. Objective 1 – Violence toward children – how much and how often: To conduct a national survey using a random sample of schools, that will determine prevalence and incidence of various types of experiences of violence that hurt and harm 9 -13 year old children. Objective 2 – Family violence and childhood disadvantage: To examine the relationship between violence at home, family disadvantage and/or protective factors, and violence at school as either a victim or perpetrator. Objective 3 – Violence and the culture of the school: To explore the correlates of violence in regard to particular aspects of school climates, for example the presence/absence of recognised anti-bullying protective measures. Objective 4 – Cognitions of violence and bullying and children’s coping strategies: To examine the impact of violence on children’s academic achievement and mental health. To also identify strategies and attributions children make regarding violence (especially with respect to blame and beliefs about aetiology), and to gain their view of the effective coping strategies that can be used by themselves and/or others.
Janis Carroll-Lind August 1998 Appendix C Letter to Parents Appendix D Children’s Consent Form 
Appendix E Guide Sheet for Children’s Experiences of Violence Questionnaire (CEVQ) Children’s Experiences of Violence Questionnaire (CEVQ) This questionnaire aims to find out what it is that hurts children and what makes them afraid. The questions are about the bad things that have happened to you or that you have watched happening to others that have upset you.
____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ 2 Now you should put your answers in the boxes below: There is an X in the boxes that you do not need to answer. TOPICS:
COPING: If these did happen think about the worst thing that happened to you. In each box write either the words Yes, Partly or No to answer the questions about coping. Question Answer
COPING: Question Answer
COPING: Question Answer
COPING: Question Answer
3 SCHOOLs can make a difference: For the next questions, write a number from the scale below. Question Answer
1. I like my school because___________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________
e.g. If getting knocked off your bike and going to hospital was the third worst thing that has ever happened your answer would look like this:
You will put a number (either 1, 2 or 3) in 3 boxes only. Now you should put your 3 answers in the correct boxes below.
Background 5 Can you tell us a little more about yourself? a) Are you? 1 a boy 2 a girl b) Are you? 1 Maori 2 NZ European/Pakeha 3 Other _________________________________
age _______ d) Who do you live with? 1 mother 2 father 3 brother(s) & sister(s) 4 other children 5 other adults 6 others__________ e) How many children in your home? Include yourself in the number of children. number of children ______ f) When you get home from school, is an adult or someone over 14 years old usually there? 1 yes 2 no g) When you go out, do your parents or those who look after you know where you are, and who you will be with? 1 always 2 usually 3 sometimes 4 not often
6 Finally here are some questions about your behaviour – you do not have to answer these if you do not want to.
7 Other Comments_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Thank you for answering these questions. Now, put your questionnaire in the envelope and seal it. Remember all your replies will be confidential. Remember to take the pink page away with you. Appendix F Form Providing Toll-free Telephone Numbers of Counsellors This Page Is For You To Keep Pull this page off the questionnaire and take it away with you. Perhaps you still feel very bad about something that has happened to you. Talking about it sometimes makes people feel better. Here are the phone numbers of people that you can trust. If you think that you might like to talk to someone, phone them. You do not have to give them your name unless you want to. phone: 0800 322 323 Jan phone: 0800 376 633 Youth Line Remember, what you do and who you decide to talk to is your choice. Directory: sites sites -> Answer True False 2 points Question 2 sites -> 587 Return function, r i(X) r i(0) r i(1) r i(2) r i(3) 1 0 2 4 6 Thermal Station, I 2 0 1 5 6 3 0 3 5 6 10 sites -> Glossary for Chapter 1 Algorithm sites -> North Carolina Inclusion Initiative Mapping Where Children with ieps are Being Served Purpose sites -> Northern England’s set-jetting locations sites -> Physical custody of 1033 program property accountibility form statement of Physical Custody: By signing for the below 1033 property I am a Law Enforcement Officer of the aforementioned Law Enforcement Agency sites -> Nstructions for Acquiring Excess Equipment online, through the 1033 Program sites -> Memorandum of agreement Download 8.3 Mb. Share with your friends:
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