School Bullying: Picture Story Elicitation of Bully and Victim/Target Experiences in a South African Primary School

Norma Nel; Soezin Krog

doi:10.17275/per.26.87.13.6

School Bullying: Picture Story Elicitation of Bully and Victim/Target Experiences in a South African Primary School

Abstract

Bullying starts in early childhood and continues into adulthood and beyond, leaving emotional scars. Bullying is currently rampant worldwide, including repeated reporting of violence and victimisation in South African (SA) schools. A qualitative research approach was used employing a case study design for this study. The sample comprises seven Grade 4 learners (mixed male, female and race equally chosen) from a public primary school and one white female homeschooler in the town, eMalahaleni, Mpumalanga Province. The two Grade 4 teachers selected the participant learners according to criteria to identify victims/targets and bullies. The main data collection tool is picture story elicitation images for learners, complemented by teacher and parent semi-structured questionnaires. Thematic data analysis was employed, resulting in three themes – learner bullying experiences; teachers’ and parents’ awareness of causes, and outcomes of bullying experiences; and learners’, teachers’ and parents’ solutions/interventions to prevent/ minimize/stop bullying at school as it manifests in the micro and meso system of Bronfenbrenner’s ecosystemic theory that forms the bedrock of this study. As a recommendation (one joining many existing anti-bullying programmes), the authors offer a value-driven bullying armor defence mechanism adapted for primary school learners, from a neighbouring secondary school’s existing and effective anti-bullying policy (with their permission).

Keywords

Keywords: bullying, picture story elicitation, victim/target, bully, bullying experiences, anti-bullying, value-driven armor

Supporting Institution

University of South Africa for Prof S Krog

Project Number

Ethics approval ref no 12331

Ethical Statement

Ethics approval granted by University of South Africa

Thanks

Thank you for considering our article for publication. Kind regards. Prof NM Nel and S Krog

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Specialist Studies in Education (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Norma Nel ^*
0009-0005-4662-7882
South Africa

Soezin Krog
0000-0001-8075-3042
South Africa

Publication Date

November 1, 2026

Submission Date

May 21, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 22, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 13 Number: 6

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.87.13.6

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA57EP56SM

APA

Nel, N., & Krog, S. (2026). School Bullying: Picture Story Elicitation of Bully and Victim/Target Experiences in a South African Primary School. Participatory Educational Research, 13(6), 250-268. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.87.13.6

AMA

1.Nel N, Krog S. School Bullying: Picture Story Elicitation of Bully and Victim/Target Experiences in a South African Primary School. PER. 2026;13(6):250-268. doi:10.17275/per.26.87.13.6

Chicago

Nel, Norma, and Soezin Krog. 2026. “School Bullying: Picture Story Elicitation of Bully and Victim Target Experiences in a South African Primary School”. Participatory Educational Research 13 (6): 250-68. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.87.13.6.

EndNote

Nel N, Krog S (November 1, 2026) School Bullying: Picture Story Elicitation of Bully and Victim/Target Experiences in a South African Primary School. Participatory Educational Research 13 6 250–268.

IEEE

[1]N. Nel and S. Krog, “School Bullying: Picture Story Elicitation of Bully and Victim/Target Experiences in a South African Primary School”, PER, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 250–268, Nov. 2026, doi: 10.17275/per.26.87.13.6.

ISNAD

Nel, Norma - Krog, Soezin. “School Bullying: Picture Story Elicitation of Bully and Victim Target Experiences in a South African Primary School”. Participatory Educational Research 13/6 (November 1, 2026): 250-268. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.87.13.6.

JAMA

1.Nel N, Krog S. School Bullying: Picture Story Elicitation of Bully and Victim/Target Experiences in a South African Primary School. PER. 2026;13:250–268.

MLA

Nel, Norma, and Soezin Krog. “School Bullying: Picture Story Elicitation of Bully and Victim Target Experiences in a South African Primary School”. Participatory Educational Research, vol. 13, no. 6, Nov. 2026, pp. 250-68, doi:10.17275/per.26.87.13.6.

Vancouver

1.Norma Nel, Soezin Krog. School Bullying: Picture Story Elicitation of Bully and Victim/Target Experiences in a South African Primary School. PER. 2026 Nov. 1;13(6):250-68. doi:10.17275/per.26.87.13.6

27707

Creative Commons Atıf 4.0 International Lisance

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School Bullying: Picture Story Elicitation of Bully and Victim/Target Experiences in a South African Primary School

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Ethical Statement

Thanks

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