Problem or Objective
The topic to study
The object of my study is the phenomenon of cyberbullying, targeted bullying with the help of high technologies and communication networks. In the context of this topic, I want to find out the reasons for this behavior and theoretical ways to deal with this issue. Simultaneously, the problem under study is considered by me from the perspective of teenage bullying since this topic seems more acute and relevant to me.
The reason to study the topic
The reason for studying this topic is the active development of high technologies and means of communication. Thanks to technological progress, tools and resources that allow people worldwide to communicate are increasingly being used. At the same time, children and adolescents are gaining access to these tools more often. As a result, acts of violence inherent in school settings are being transferred to the virtual world. According to statistics, the number of acts of cyberbullying has grown immensely over the past few years (Zhu et al., 2021). If active research is not started in this area, the frequency of cyberbullying can grow to dangerous levels and become a significant problem for teenagers due to its destructive influence.
How the topic contributes to the general understanding of crime
Although cyberbullying itself is difficult to classify, the study of this area will allow assessing its constituent components and identify specific crimes within this area. Exploring this topic in the context of juvenile crimes will make it possible to understand the motives for committing them through digital communication. In addition, the study of materials on this topic will allow understanding of the existing policies of law enforcement agencies and identifying possible shortcomings in their reactions.
Literature Review
Zhu, C., Huang, S., Evans, R., & Zhang, W. (2021). Cyberbullying among adolescents and children: a comprehensive review of the global situation, risk factors, and preventive measures. Frontiers in Public Health, 167.
- Background: Cyberbullying is well-recognized as a severe public health issue which affects both adolescents and children. Most extant studies have focused on national and regional effects of cyberbullying, with few examining the global perspective of cyberbullying. This systematic review comprehensively examines the global situation, risk factors, and preventive measures taken worldwide to fight cyberbullying among adolescents and children.
- Methods: A systematic review of available literature was completed following PRISMA guidelines using the search themes “cyberbullying” and “adolescent or children”; the time frame was from January 1st, 2015 to December 31st, 2019. Eight academic databases pertaining to public health, and communication and psychology were consulted, namely: Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar, ProQuest, Communication & Mass Media Complete, CINAHL, and PsycArticles. Additional records identified through other sources included the references of reviews and two websites, Cyberbullying Research Center and United Nations Children’s Fund. A total of 63 studies out of 2070 were included in our final review focusing on cyberbullying prevalence and risk factors.
- Results: The prevalence rates of cyberbullying preparation ranged from 6.0 to 46.3%, while the rates of cyberbullying victimization ranged from 13.99 to 57.5%, based on 63 references. Verbal violence was the most common type of cyberbullying. Fourteen risk factors and three protective factors were revealed in this study. At the personal level, variables associated with cyberbullying including age, gender, online behavior, race, health condition, past experience of victimization, and impulsiveness were reviewed as risk factors. Likewise, at the situational level, parent-child relationship, interpersonal relationships, and geographical location were also reviewed in relation to cyberbullying. As for protective factors, empathy and emotional intelligence, parent-child relationship, and school climate were frequently mentioned.
- Conclusion: The prevalence rate of cyberbullying has increased significantly in the observed 5-year period, and it is imperative that researchers from low and middle income countries focus sufficient attention on cyberbullying of children and adolescents. Despite a lack of scientific intervention research on cyberbullying, the review also identified several promising strategies for its prevention from the perspectives of youths, parents and schools. More research on cyberbullying is needed, especially on the issue of cross-national cyberbullying. International cooperation, multi-pronged and systematic approaches are highly encouraged to deal with cyberbullying.
Theoretical Perspective
From a theoretical perspective, several concepts can explain the criminal nature and behavior of people involved in cyberbullying. At the moment, there are very few models that fully address this problem, so most research is reduced to adaptations of other models (Ansary, 2020). In this context, the most productive for explaining the principles of cyberbullying are models of aggression and the socio-economic model. In my study, I will focus on the latter method since it is actively used to explain traditional bullying, allowing parallels between the real and virtual worlds.
Research Questions
The main research question is formulated as follows: what are the most common and most significant causes of cyberbullying among school-age children? Also, I want to investigate further what are the response policies from law enforcement’s point of view. However, I acknowledge that the focus of my research may shift as I gain more information on the topic (Maxfield & Babbie, 2018). For example, I may begin to investigate existing weaknesses in the law enforcement system regarding cyberbullying if it turns out that there are very few measures available.
Subjects for Study
First, it is necessary to study the available statistics on cyberbullying acts and existing research on this topic. This information will allow me to understand which direction I should conduct a further search. Secondly, to comprehend how the state behaves concerning this phenomenon, it is necessary to study the legislation, analyzing how cyberbullying and its components fit into its norms. Finally, the most accurate source of information can be schoolchildren who have personally encountered or observed acts of cyberbullying on the Internet. By interviewing them and people associated with them, information can be obtained regarding real crime cases.
Data Collection Methods
To collect primary data, it will be necessary to use various Internet search resources. Databases of peer-reviewed journals can help gather data on current research, and websites of government organizations can help with information regarding legislation. However, to obtain factual information from schoolchildren, it will be necessary to contact schools and structures already involved in cyberbullying investigations. By contacting children through particular institutions, it will be possible to establish more trusting relationships and find suitable candidates for research more effectively.
References
Ansary, N. S. (2020). Cyberbullying: Concepts, theories, and correlates informing evidence-based best practices for prevention. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 50, 101343.
Maxfield, M. G., & Babbie, E. R. (2018). Research methods for criminal justice and criminology (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.