”The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph” – George Washington Konflikthantering - En kvalitativ studie om hur lärare talar om konflikter samt konflikthantering.

Abstract

This thesis aims address how teachers in after-school centers speak about conflict and conflict management. We seek to shed light on the existing problems in these centers and about conflict management. We decided to focus on this particular subject because of the drastic growth of conflicts we see in Swedish schools. To be able to map out teacher’s perspective on conflicts, in a precise manner, we will explore not only how they speak on the subject, but also what they do to prevent it, what pedagogic strategies they use, how they view the increasing amount of conflicts, if the guidelines set within these centers are successful or not and lastly, if these conflicts could potentially, in fact, contribute to a positive evolvement for children. To best produce qualitative answers, we have used semi-structured interviews. To document the material we have collected, we have used a tape recorder, a notebook and a computer. To further strengthen our collected data, we have searched for relevant theories and old research and science that could be applied onto our thesis. The most noticeable material we have collected is the fact that the amounts of conflicts has increased while teachers consider their guidelines to be inadequate, and that they need clearer instructions on how to resolve conflicts in specific situations. The results also illustrate that many believe that conflict is positive, and that it could lead to different kinds of evolvement. The most common pedagogic strategy among the interviewees is to take on a position as a mediator in a situation of conflict. To simply engage as little as possible, and even then, in an unbiased manner, and leave the course of the conflict in the hands of the children.