Welcome to the Youth Voice Project.
                  "Just ask the kids."

This study is the first known large-scale research project that solicits students’ perceptions about strategy effectiveness to reduce peer mistreatment in our schools. We believe that students’ voices are an invaluable resource to increase our understanding of effective prevention and intervention efforts.

The goal of this project is to compile a body of knowledge describing the most helpful interventions in order to help adults and youth reduce bullying and harassment in their own schools. It is our hope to use this information to guide educators, parents, and youth in applying effective interventions to reduce bullying and subsequently, optimize students’ development.

Thank you for your interest in our youth. 
Sincerely yours,

Stan Davis and Charisse Nixon 

More than 13,000 teens in 31 schools have now completed the Youth Voice project survey, focusing on what works and what doesn't work. 
Here is our first report in pdf format, which focuses on the effects of different actions by bullied youth, by adults, and by peers. We invite you to share it with colleagues and look forward to hearing from you.

Here is our second report, which is a brief overview of the frequency and types of peer aggression experienced by youth in our study.

Here are two brief tip sheets- one page overviews of our findings, created with Dr. Elizabeth Englander from the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center:
For parents and educators: a summary of effective actions by mistreated youth and by school adults
For parents and educators: a summary of effective bystander actions

We presented a workshop based on this research at the 2010 International Bullying Prevention Association conference in Seattle, WA. Here is a pdf of the powerpoint we used. As with all powerpoint outlines, we recommend that you review the research reports and email us for further clarification of the slides. 

About the researchers:

Dr. Charisse Nixon is an Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, in Pennsylvania and is the author of several research articles. She is also the coauthor of Girl Wars: 12 Strategies That Will End Female Bullying (Fireside, 2003) as well as several scholarly articles. She trains educators nationwide. More information about trainings and conference presentations.

Stan Davis is the author of Schools Where Everyone Belongs: Practical Strategies for Reducing Bullying (2nd edition, Research Press, 2007) and Empowering Bystanders in Bullying Prevention (Research Press, 2007). He trains educators throughout the United States and consults with schools. Stan recently retired from school guidance counseling after 41 years as a child and family therapist and school counselor. More information about books, trainings, and conference presentations

Contact information:
Charisse Nixon cln5@psu.edu
Stan Davis stan@stopbullyingnow.com