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Peter K. Smith: Understanding School Bullying: Its Nature and Prevention Strategies Sage Publications, London, UK, 2014. ISBN: 978-1-84787-905-9. GBP ?22.99 (paperback).
Smith begins this book with a modest acknowledgement that it is difficult for any text to fully reflect the fast-growing research around school bullying. However, this book comes as close as possible to providing a complete overview of the field and so clearly illustrates the immense knowledge and experience of its author. The current research findings that are woven throughout the book are intersected with practical and policy-related implications, as well as the occasional personal reflection. Throughout the book, the author incorporates both historic and current research in the field to create on overall view of the foundations and the future of the field.
The book consists of seven chapters that cover issues of definition, prevalence, outcomes, research strategies, and intervention. Thought-provoking from the first page, Smith identifies that both the term and the concept of bullying may be limited, and can instead be viewed as an abuse of power in all relationships. Accordingly, he briefly discusses various other contexts of bullying, such as workplace bullying, before continuing with a focus only on bullying in the context of schools. The book discusses a wide range of methods for finding out more about bullying, including an overview of research that has used each of the methods discussed. Briefly, the book provides an overview of many aspects of research, including cultural differences, finishing off with future directions and a view of prevention and intervention as a responsibility of communities as a whole.
Smith...