Perceptions of Bullying in Schools: A Comparative Study of Student and Teacher Perspectives

Abstract

Bullying in school environments has remained a concern since the establishment of educational institutions. Despite evidence to suggest the continued prevalence of bullying, studies of bullying in high school environments specifically in the Indian context remain rare. In an attempt to bridge the aforementioned gap, this paper aimed to understand the stark differences behind the perceptual identification of bullying, between teachers and students. The present study examined these differences with a random sample of 237 students and 43 teachers from the major areas in India. The present study utilised scales such as the Bullying Vignette Test, Victim Olweus Scale, and the Bullying Significance Test in order to establish significant differences between gender and grades for students. The present study also established significant differences between students and teachers on the Bullying Vignette test, along with the establishment of a positive correlation between Bullying Identification and Bullying Intervention for teachers. This particular study concludes not just the perceptual differences but recognizes the difference that factors such as age, teaching experience, gender and grades can make upon how bullying is perceived by teachers or students.