Martial arts training as an intervention to reduce campus violence in elementary schools

Campus Violence for K-12 Setting

What measurable outcome do you choose to explain?

I wish to explain the effect that having martial arts-based classes offered as a regular regiment for students would have on the total number of violent incidents, as well as what the severity of this violence is, occurring on campus among students.

3) Identify a "manipulable" causal influence (intervention) on your chosen outcome?

The casual influence on this study would be the implementation of a program that would offer martial arts studies to students. This program would focus on self-control, anger management, positive outlets, and self-defense.

4) State you hypothesis

If martial arts training and therapy were offered to elementary school students, the students would benefit from the self-control, self-confidence, and other character-building aspects of these teachings. The rates of school violence and the severity of violent incidents would decrease if such a martial arts program were implemented.

5) Design an experimental or quasiexperimental research study in which you can empirically test your hypothesis. In other words, compare an experimental group to a control group. Because randomization is not possible, choose a control group that is similar to the experimental group prior to your intervention.

The data that would be collected over the study of the course of the implemented program would then be compared with past rates of school violence in the same school from previous years before said program existed. Additionally, the statistics would be compared to other schools in the same district from past years as well as the years during which the chosen school implemented the martial arts therapy program. This would provide a wide range of comparisons from which to draw conclusions.

6) what new knowledge do you think your study will add to the extant literature?

This study would offer a unique possible solution to many of the problems experienced within the elementary school environment regarding campus violence. Martial arts is commonly mistaken for a violence-encouraging activity, however it is actually one that teaches self-control and builds self-confidence. It would be beneficial for researchers to see the results of such a non-traditional approach so that other non-traditional methods may be attempted and more potential solutions to the problem of school violence.