Table of Contents
The Bullying Prevalence Questionnaire
Here in this post, we are sharing the “Bullying Prevalence Questionnaire”. You can read psychometric and Author information. We have thousands of Scales and questionnaires in our collection (See Scales and Questionnaires). You can demand us any scale and questionnaires related to psychology through our community, and we will provide you with a short time. Keep visiting Psychology Roots.
About The Bullying Prevalence Questionnaire
Scale Name
The Bullying Prevalence Questionnaire
Author Details
Ken Rigby and Phillip Slee
Translation Availability
Not Sure

Background/Description
Bullying, sadly, continues to be a pervasive issue across different settings, particularly in schools. To effectively combat this behavior, understanding its prevalence is crucial. This is where the Bullying Prevalence Questionnaire (BPQ) comes in.
Developed in 1993 by renowned researchers Ken Rigby and Phillip Slee, the BPQ offers a reliable and widely used tool to assess bullying prevalence. Its straightforward structure makes it accessible for both educators and researchers.
Imagine asking students 20 simple questions about their experiences with bullying, both as victims and perpetrators. That’s the essence of the BPQ. Participants anonymously rate how often statements like “I get called names by others” or “I give soft kids a hard time” apply to them, providing a clear picture of how prevalent bullying is within a specific group or environment.
The BPQ’s value lies in its ability to:
- Quantify bullying: It sheds light on the overall level of bullying within a school, classroom, or any other group.
- Identify individuals: By revealing who experiences or engages in bullying behavior, the BPQ helps direct preventative measures and support.
- Track progress: Repeatedly administering the BPQ allows for monitoring changes in bullying prevalence over time, assessing the effectiveness of anti-bullying programs.
However, it’s essential to consider its limitations:
- Self-report: Participants’ honesty can influence results, requiring interpretation alongside other sources.
- Limited scope: While comprehensive, the BPQ might miss specific forms of bullying like cyberbullying.
- Social desirability: Students may underreport or distort their experiences due to a desire to appear in a positive light.
Despite these limitations, the BPQ remains a powerful tool in the fight against bullying. Its ease of use, reliability, and informative output make it invaluable for research and intervention efforts. Remember, understanding the extent of the problem is the first step towards creating a safer and more inclusive environment for everyone.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
The BPQ’s user-friendly design makes it accessible for administration in various settings, most commonly schools. Here’s a breakdown of the process:
Before administering:
- Choose the right version: The BPQ has versions for different age groups and contexts. Ensure you have the appropriate version for your target audience.
- Prepare materials: Make copies of the questionnaire and answer sheets, or use an online platform if available. Gather pencils or pens for participants.
- Explain the purpose: Briefly explain the BPQ’s purpose, emphasizing anonymity and confidentiality. Assure participants their responses will not impact them negatively.
- Provide instructions: Clearly explain how to fill out the questionnaire, emphasizing the rating scale (e.g., Never, Once in a while, Pretty Often, Very Often).
- Address concerns: Encourage participants to ask questions if anything is unclear. Be prepared to answer any concerns about anonymity or confidentiality.
During administration:
- Create a calm environment: Ensure a quiet space free from distractions to encourage focused participation.
- Supervise, but don’t hover: Be readily available to answer questions while respecting participants’ privacy. Avoid hovering or appearing intimidating.
- Maintain anonymity: Collect questionnaires in a way that ensures no names or identifying information are associated with responses.
After administration:
- Score the questionnaires: Use the provided scoring guide or online platform to calculate individual and group scores.
- Interpret the results: Analyze the data to understand the prevalence of bullying within your setting. Identify areas of concern and potential targets for intervention.
- Share the results: Communicate the findings with relevant stakeholders, such as school administrators, teachers, and parents. Use the data to inform anti-bullying strategies and interventions.
Reliability and Validity
The BPQ’s effectiveness hinges on its reliability (consistently measuring what it intends to) and validity (accurately reflecting the construct being measured, in this case, bullying prevalence). Let’s dive deeper into these aspects:
- Internal consistency: The BPQ demonstrates high internal consistency, meaning individual items cohere well within the sub-scales (victimization and perpetration). This is evidenced by high Cronbach’s alpha coefficients typically exceeding 0.80.
- Test-retest reliability: Studies have shown that the BPQ produces similar results when administered to the same group with a reasonable time interval between tests (e.g., a few weeks or months).
- Content validity: The BPQ items directly correspond to established definitions and behaviors associated with bullying, ensuring relevance to the intended concept.
- Criterion validity: The BPQ shows strong correlations with other established bullying measures, suggesting it accurately reflects what it purports to measure.
- Construct validity: Studies have supported the BPQ’s two-factor structure (victimization and perpetration), demonstrating its ability to capture distinct aspects of bullying behavior.
Available Versions
20-Items
Reference
Rigby, K., & Slee, P. (1993). Bullying prevalence questionnaire: Manual and questionnaire forms. Unpublished manuscript.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BPQ?
The BPQ is a questionnaire used to assess the prevalence of bullying behavior in various settings, most commonly schools. It allows participants to anonymously report their experiences with bullying, both as victims and perpetrators.
Who developed the BPQ?
The BPQ was developed by researchers Ken Rigby and Phillip Slee in 1993.
What are the benefits of using the BPQ?
The BPQ is a quick and easy way to assess bullying prevalence in a group or setting. It provides valuable data to inform anti-bullying interventions and monitor their effectiveness.
What are the limitations of the BPQ?
The BPQ relies on self-report, which can be subject to bias and inaccuracies. It may not capture all forms of bullying, such as cyberbullying, and it might be influenced by social desirability.
Disclaimer
Please note that Psychology Roots does not have the right to grant permission for the use of any psychological scales or assessments listed on its website. To use any scale or assessment, you must obtain permission directly from the author or translator of the tool. Psychology Roots provides information about various tools and their administration procedures, but it is your responsibility to obtain proper permissions before using any scale or assessment. If you need further information about an author’s contact details, please submit a query to the Psychology Roots team.
Help Us Improve This Article
Have you discovered an inaccuracy? We put out great effort to give accurate and scientifically trustworthy information to our readers. Please notify us if you discover any typographical or grammatical errors.
Make a comment. We acknowledge and appreciate your efforts.
Share With Us
If you have any scale or any material related to psychology kindly share it with us at psychologyroots@gmail.com. We help others on behalf of you.