NCJ Number
219463
Date Published
June 1998
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This report presents the methodology and findings of focus testing among primary-school students that addressed the concepts of a community education program ("Be Cool...Not Cruel") designed to prevent violent behavior stemming from youths' exposure to domestic violence in the Northern Territory (Australia).
Abstract
The students' responses to the survey used in the focus testing shows that all age groups (8-15 years old) surveyed accepted the proposed materials for the Be Cool...Not Cruel education campaign. Responses included a strong preference for the program's title, "Be Cool...Not Cruel," which will be used as a key message for the campaign. Based on the testing, cartoon animal characters and "Captain Harley" will also be used. These findings provide direction for refining and producing the educational material for the program. A total of 337 children were surveyed during 1996. All attended urban schools in three cities of the Northern Territory. The gender balance of the sample was approximately equal, with 73 percent of the sample being in grades four to seven. The questionnaire consisted of two sections. One section of questions required a "yes" or "no" answer. The second section solicited the students' preferred message for a proposed sticker. This report also presents statistics on the number of cases in which children were exposed to domestic violence in the Northern Territory in 1997 and the effects on the children of this exposure. 11 figures, 1 table, 6 references, and appended survey questionnaire