A review of selected school-based conflict resolution and peer mediation projects

Many U.S. schools are implementing curricula and other activities to reduce interpersonal violence among students. Most involve conflict resolution or peer mediation (CR/PM) training. Little is known about the effectiveness or manner of implementing these projects. This paper examines nine projects supported by four state health departments. Available data suggest some projects may modify youths' self-reported attitudes about violent behavior, improve school discipline, and reduce absenteeism. The review also revealed considerable variation in implementation, especially in the role of professionally trained consultants and amount of teacher and student training. More attention should be paid to evaluating CR/PM projects. Some data suggest they may contribute positively to community efforts to reduce violence among youth, but insufficient information exists to know which projects best serve which students, and how projects should be implemented. Until consensus emerges, project personnel should carefully assess the implementation and impact of their activities. Routinely collected data, such as disciplinary actions, can be used for evaluation, often with only minor modification.