The Effects of Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation Education on Students’ Empathy Skills

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of a Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation (CRPM) training program on the 10-11 year-old elementary school students’ empathy skills. The research was carried out using a pre-test/post-test, quasi-experimental design. The study group included 585 students; 336 in the experiment and 249 in the control group. Statistically significant differences were found between the pre-test and post-test means of the experiment group. There was a significant difference between the post-test scores of the boys in the experiment and the control group although no such difference was found among the girls who participated in the study. The gain score means of the experiment and the control group, and of the boys’ in the experiment and the control group were significantly different. These results support the assumption that the CRPM training program might be effective in increasing the elementary school students’ levels of empathy.