AN INVESTIGATION OF BULLYING ACCORDING TO CLASSROOM CLIMATE

The purpose of this study was to investigate three types of students’ perceptions of classroom climate in primary schools: Bullies, victims, and students uninvolved in bullying. The sample of this research was based on three state schools in Avc lar, Istanbul. Out of all 4th and 5th grade students in these schools, 29 students uninvolved in bullying (18.5 %), 91 victims (58 %), and 37 bullies (23.5 %) participated in this study (N=157). For qualitative data, 15 students from each group as identified below –in total 45 students- were interviewed. The results of the study showed that students uninvolved in bullying had a more positive perception of classroom climate than victims and bullies. These students uninvolved in bullying perceived their classroom teacher as a partner who relaxed and supported them and who shared his own concerns with them. Also, they tended to establish more positive relationships with their teachers. As for students’ perceptions of classroom climate, students uninvolved in bullying and bullies stated that they were happy in their classrooms when compared to victims.