Effectiveness of the FearNot!v.2.0 Software in Reducing Bullying Victimisation Among Primary School Children

Using a Virtual Learning Environment to Reduce Bullying: Evaluation of the FearNot!v.2.0 Intervention in Primary Schools in England and Germany

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00597337

Enrollment

1129

Registered

2008-01-18

Start date

2007-11-30

Completion date

2008-05-31

Last updated

2008-12-18

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Bullying Victimisation

Keywords

bullying, victimisation, aggressive behavior

Brief summary

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual learning treatment in reducing bullying among primary school children in the UK and Germany.

Detailed description

In this study, a virtual learning environment application called FearNot!v.2.0 will be evaluated as a way to improve the quality of life in schools by altering children's attitudes and behavior towards bullying. Participants will be assigned to either the intervention or the control group. The intention was to assign randomly, however, only a minority of primary schools have the computer facilities to run the software with all pupils participating. Thus, assignment is based on the school computer compatibility with the FearNot!v.2.0 software for intervention versus control group controlling for social variables. Participants in the intervention group will interact with the software during 30-minute sessions once a week for a total of 3 weeks while participants in the control group will follow the normal curriculum. The FearNot! narrative comprises a number of emergent episodes, which play out like an improvisational drama. During each of these emergent episodes, the characters will act out their roles resulting in a dramatic movie-like display on the computer's monitor. In between each of these episodes, the child can interact with the victim character. He/she can learn how the character feels, and offer them coping strategy advice as to how to behave in the following episode. Outcomes will be assessed through student questionnaires at baseline, one week, and four weeks after treatment. In addition, classroom teachers will be asked to complete the Teacher Incidence of Bullying Scale at baseline and 4 weeks after the treatment.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALFearNot

Behavioral: Three sessions of FearNot!v.2.0 software interaction over a three-week period (each session lasting approximately 30 minutes)

Study design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

8 Years to 11 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

for schools: * Mixed * Not currently involved in intervention studies specific to countering bullying * Access to computers that are compatible to run FearNot!v.2.0 (for intervention schools) Inclusion Criteria for participants: * Age between 8-11 * Passive parental consent

Exclusion criteria

* Enrolled in special education schools

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Bullying victimisation - Participant Roles Questionnaire	Measured 1 week post-treatment and at 4 week follow-up

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Knowledge about Bullying and Coping Strategies Knowledge Questionnaire	Measured 1-week post-treatment and at 4-week follow-up
Peer nominations of defenders	Measured 1 week post-treatment and at 4 week follow-up
Hymel, Rocke & Bonanno Moral Disengagement Questionnaire	Measured 1 week post-treatment and at 4 week follow-up
Janke and Janke Adjective Word List (adapted)	Measured after each treatment session

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026