“Reducing Cyberbullying”
Turning Bystanders into Constructive Defenders
Dear Parent/Guardian,
We are seeking permission for your child to participate in a new and exciting research trial to reduce cyberbullying, “Reducing Cyberbullying: Turning Bystanders into Constructive Defenders”. We are evaluating an internet program developed at Macquarie University “CyBIT” to reduce cyberbullying. Our focus is on bystanders who witness bullying episodes. Most cyberbullying episodes are witnessed by other students and yet most students passively watch and do nothing to stop it. We know from numerous studies that if bystanders intervene in the cyberbullying episode, they can be effective in stopping the bullying and comforting the victim. The aim of this trial is to increase constructive upstanders. The study has been approved by your child’s school principal. Please sign the form below if you would like your child to participate.
Who is involved in this study?
This research is being conducted by Professor Kay Bussey (phone: 02 9850 8085, email: kay.bussey@mq.edu.au), from the School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Human Sciences at Macquarie University. She is the lead researcher on this Australian Research Council funded project. Aileen Luo and Emma Jackson, postdoctoral researchers within the School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Human Sciences at Macquarie University are also part of the research team.
What will my child be asked to do?
Your child will complete an online 45-minute questionnaire at two time points in 2024 (Term 1 and Term 3). Surveys will be completed by students at school or, upon request by your child’s school, in a quiet place at home under supervision of an adult. Students will be asked to answer questions about their experiences of cyberbullying and how they have responded when they witnessed it. We will also be measuring psychological factors such as empathy that have been related to cyberbullying defending.
The intervention program will occur in half the schools, randomly selected, participating in this project. The program will provide students with information about how to defend victims when they observe cyberbullying, the importance of defending victims, and how victims feel if they are ignored. This will occur in Term 2, 2024 and will involve students’ participation in an online activity which will take up to 30 minutes per week for 6 weeks. The other half of schools will have access to the intervention program after completing the second questionnaire.
The online activity will be administered via the survey platform Qualtrics. Children will not be asked to provide their names on the questionnaires but will be provided with a code to link their survey responses across time. Deidentified data will be stored on a secure drive located at Macquarie University. The principal of your school has been given a copy of the questionnaire for approval prior to the commencement of the research.
Are there any risks?
Most students who have participated in similar research have enjoyed the experience. However, if your child shows any signs of not wishing to participate, they can stop at any time. Also, you can withdraw your consent for your child’s participation at any time without giving a reason. It is possible that some students may experience distress as a result of recalling cyberbullying experiences. If your child does experience distress as a result of completing the questionnaires, they will be able to privately request a meeting with a counsellor by checking a box on the questionnaire when they have either finished, or when they have chosen to stop completing the questionnaire.
Your child may also wish to seek support from online and telephone support organisations if they are distressed. Contact details of several services are listed below:
Alternatively, you may wish to seek support from the following services:
- KidsHelpline (24/7 support): 1800 55 1800 or webchat
- Lifeline (24/7 support): 13 11 14 or webchat
- Beyond Blue (24/7 support): 1300 224 636 or webchat
- Twenty10 (support for young people who are LGBTQIA+): http://www.twenty10.org.au
- Or make an appointment with your local headspace centre: http://www.headspace.org.au
A copy of the research results (averages not individual data) will be made available to parents and children through your child’s school once they are available. Data may be made available to other researchers for future Human Research Ethics Committee-approved research projects.
Please discuss this project with your child before giving approval. During discussions, it is important to make your child aware that they can withdraw from participation at any time, even if they have not completed the questionnaires. Please assure your child that they will not be asked any questions if they decide, at any time, not to participate or withdraw their participation.
If you wish to give consent for your child to participate, please complete the form on the next page.
We would be very grateful for your child’s participation. Information derived from this project is aimed to reduce cyberbullying, make cyber space safer for your child and other children, and enhance their wellbeing. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Kay.
Thank you,
Dr Kay Bussey
The ethical aspects of this study have been approved by the Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee. If you have any complaints or reservations about any ethical aspect of child’s participation in this research, you may contact the Committee through the Director, Research Ethics and Integrity (telephone (02) 9850 7854; email: ethics@mq.edu.au). Any complaint you make will be treated in confidence and investigated, and you will be informed of the outcome.
