Impetus for the intervention study, early stages of planning, and funding

Within the last decade several epidemiological studies on school bullying have been carried out nationally as well as internationally (Olweus, 1991; Smith, Morita, Junger-Tas, Olweus, Catalano, and Slee, 1999). In Germany a number of cross-section studies were published (Holtappels, 1987; Tillmann, 1994; Todt and Busch, 1994). However, in contrast to the wide number of descriptive correlational studies on bullying and aggression, there are relatively few longitudinal studies that allow us to assess possible changes in bullying.

This chapter presents the conception, implementation, and evaluation of an intervention study to prevent bullying and aggression in German schools. In 1993 a survey was commissioned by the Ministry of Education of the Land Schleswig-Holstein to assess the extent of bullying and victimisation in schools in Schleswig-Holstein. From the results of the survey, recommendations for school-based violence prevention were derived (Niebel, Hanewinkel, and Ferstl, 1993). The Ministry of Education formed the networking group ‘violence prevention in schools’ which consisted of school staff, parents, as well as experts from different working areas. The working group decided to adapt and implement an anti-bullying programme in schools in Schleswig-Holstein which is based on the concepts and ideas of Dan Olweus (1993).

Selection of schools

In April 1994, the information brochure ‘Prevention of Violence and Aggression in Schools’ was distributed to all schools in Schleswig-Holstein (N = 1,055), introducing the idea of, as well as offering participation in, the programme.