The effect of becoming a peer mediator on social problem solving and conflict resolution skills

The study aimed to investigate the impact of becoming a peer mediator on social problem solving and conflict resolution skills. A mixed design was used, with group (experimental or control) as the between participant factor and time (before training, after training and after actively being a peer mediator) as the within participant factor.

Twenty four year five children were trained as peer mediators whilst twenty two acted as a control group and did not receive any training.

Three measures were taken from both groups at the three time points. Measures were also taken from teachers and parents at time one and time three.

Mixed ANOVAs and post hoc t-tests were conducted on child report transformed data.

There was a significant increase in scores on four of the dimensions in the experimental group on the social problem solving measure but there were also some significant improvements in the control group.

Children in the experimental groups significantly increased their self rated empathy and self control scores whilst the control groups scores decreased.

It can be concluded that becoming a peer mediator has a significant effect on social problem solving skills (empathy and self control) but not on conflict resolution skills.