The Impact of a Peer Mediation Program on an Elementary School Environment

A growing preoccupation of the nation's educational community involves violence in schools, which causes disruption of the educational process, fear and absenteeism among students, staff burnout, and urban flight. One response to this problem has been conflict resolution and Peer Mediation Programs (PMPs). This two‐year study analyzes the impact of a Peer Mediation Program on an elementary school's conflict management environment. A nonequivalent control group design with two closely matched urban elementary schools totaling one thousand students was used. Results indicate significant improvements in win/win outcomes of student conflict. Primary intervenors in conflict shifted from adult dominance to greater student involvement. The incidence of student conflicts declined significantly at the treatment school, as did the amount of time teachers devoted to dealing with student conflicts.