Cyberbullying -- harming others using technological communication methods -- is a recent addition to the arsenal of bullies, and it is predicted to increase internationally as availability of technology expands. Researchers around the world have begun to investigate this phenomenon in order to understand its prevalence, dynamics, relationship to conventional bullying, differences among gender and ethnic groups, and characteristics of those involved in cyberbullying as bully, victim, or both. The research to date has suffered from the absence of a common definition of cyberbullying. Without a consistent definition, findings from one study cannot be compared to those of other studies. In addition, there are no standardized measures used by researchers to collect data. Finally, the lack of a 'best practice' standard for research methods in this field means that individual researchers or research groups may be approaching the problem in less productive ways.
This award will fund an international meeting of cyberbullying scholars to address three basic issues: definition, measures, and methods of conducting research on cyberbullying. The event will bring together prominent researchers from the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia to collaborate and focus on these important questions. With a common definition, sound measurement practices, and established methods for future research, the field of cyberbullying will advance more quickly. A thorough understanding of the problem is a necessary foundation upon which to build effective prevention and intervention programs, and this conference will establish the groundwork for research to construct that understanding. In addition, the United States (a latecomer to bullying research) will establish itself as an important leader in this emerging field.
This grant funded a conference (think tank) for 20 international scholars who study cyberbullying that was held in Tucson, Arizona September 27 - 29, 2010. Participating scholars were invited based on their publications and/or presentations on cyberbullying at scholarly conferences. They represented eight countries and four continents and several academic discipoines, including psychology, sociology, human development, education, social work, public health, and counseling. The participants formed three work groups based on expertise and interest, and each group deliberated on one of the three foci for this meeting: the definition of cyberbullying, measures used by researchers who study cyberbullying, and ethical and innovative methods to study this phenomenon. Each group had an opportunity to receive feedback from other groups before finalizing their positions. Each work group made a presentation to tall participants on their conclusions and areas for furrther study. The scholars then developed a plan for a monograph providing scholars with guidelines for conducting research in this area, and we signed a contract with Routledge to publish this volume in Spring 2012. Each participant is contributing one or more chapters to this work. We also created a website for use of scholars preparing for the meeting; this site is now available for public viewing. Visitors can access videos of the final presentations, read bios and papers by participants, and view photos of the event.
