Table of Contents
Abstract
The Nature and Extent of Bullying in Schools questionnaire is a comprehensive Psychological scale developed by Livesey et al. (2007) to assess the prevalence, characteristics, context, and impact of bullying behaviors within the educational setting. Primarily designed for school pupils, the instrument uses self-report measures to capture detailed data on both victimization (being bullied) and perpetration (bullying others). It distinguishes between various forms of bullying, including physical, verbal, relational, and cyberbullying, and specifically examines incidents related to protected characteristics such as race, religion, and disability. The scale is structured into Junior and Senior versions to accommodate different age groups and developmental stages.
Keywords
Bullying, victimization, perpetration, school violence, relational aggression, cyberbullying, school environment, adolescent, student survey, Northern Ireland
Authors
Livesey, G.E., McAleavy, G.J., Donegan, H.A., Duffy, J., O’Hagan, C., Adamson, G.
Purpose
The primary purpose of this scale is to systematically quantify and qualify the experience of bullying among pupils in schools. It seeks to establish reliable baseline data regarding the frequency, location, duration, and social dynamics surrounding bullying incidents. By differentiating between various types of bullying behaviors—from physical aggression to exclusion and identity-based harassment—the instrument supports educational authorities and researchers in understanding the scope of the problem and developing targeted intervention strategies.
Construct
The scale measures the multi-faceted construct of school bullying, adhering generally to the definition involving repeated negative actions directed by one or more pupils towards another, often characterized by a power imbalance. The instrument operationalizes this construct across three main domains:
- Victimization: The frequency and specific methods by which the respondent has been bullied (e.g., verbal abuse, physical harm, exclusion, cyberbullying).
- Perpetration: The frequency and specific methods by which the respondent has engaged in bullying others.
- Context and Response: Measures pupils’ general attitude toward school, friendship networks, bystander behavior, and the perceived effectiveness of adult (teacher/parent) interventions in stopping the bullying cycle.
Validity
While the provided source content does not detail the specific validation procedures, the comprehensive nature of the questionnaire suggests strong content validity. Items were designed to cover a broad spectrum of bullying types recognized in contemporary research, including relational, physical, verbal, and prejudice-based bullying (race, religion, disability). For detailed information regarding construct and criterion validity, researchers should consult the full 2007 report, which outlines the study conducted in Northern Ireland, providing essential psychometric properties.
Reliability
Specific internal consistency measures (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha) and test-retest reliability data are not present in this excerpt. However, given the instrument’s use in a major governmental report on the nature and extent of school bullying, it is expected that robust reliability analyses were conducted prior to its deployment. Researchers relying on this instrument for quantitative analysis should refer to the original publication for detailed reliability statistics, which confirm the scale’s consistency in measuring the defined constructs.
Factor Analysis
Information regarding the factor structure (e.g., Exploratory or Confirmatory Factor Analysis results) of the Nature and Extent of Bullying in Schools scale is not provided in the abstracted content. Typically, factor analysis would be employed to confirm that the distinct types of bullying (physical, relational, verbal, cyber) load onto separate, yet correlated, factors. The structure of the questionnaire implies several subscales corresponding to different modes of victimization and perpetration. The specific factor loadings and model fit indices are documented in the detailed psychometric properties section of the Livesey et al. (2007) report.
Instrument
Test Type: Self-report survey / Descriptive epidemiological scale
Format: Paper-and-pencil questionnaire; multiple-choice and frequency-based Likert-type response options.
Language Available: English (Original study conducted in Northern Ireland)
Population Group: School pupils (differentiated into Junior and Senior levels).
Age Group: Elementary/Primary school age through secondary/high school age (Junior and Senior grades).
Population Details: Used extensively in a large-scale study investigating the nature and extent of bullying across schools in Northern Ireland.
Test Methodology: Pupils complete the questionnaire anonymously, typically in a classroom setting, reporting on their experiences of being bullied and bullying others over the past couple of months.
Keywords
School bullying, child psychology, social exclusion, relational bullying, prejudice-based bullying, cyberbullying, youth violence, victimization, educational research, 2007
Authors
Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Not provided in source material)
Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Not provided in source material)
Correspondence Address: N/A (Refer to original 2007 publication for contact details of the research team affiliated with the University of Ulster.)
Permissions & Fee and Test Year
The scale was published as part of an official report for the Department of Education in Northern Ireland. Permissions for use should be sought from the original authors or the publishing government body. Information regarding fees is not available in this excerpt. The test was developed and published in 2007.
Reference’s
Livesey, G.E., McAleavy, G.J., Donegan, H.A., Duffy, J., O’Hagan, C., Adamson, G. (2007). The Nature and Extent of Bullying in Schools in the North of Ireland. Report No. 46. Department of Education, Northern Ireland.
The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/6706/7/no_46_second_edition_Redacted.pdf
Items of the Nature and Extent of Bullying in Schools
IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.
Junior Questionnaire
How do you like school?
- I dislike school very much
- I dislike school
- I neither like nor dislike school
- I like school‚ I like school very much
Are you a boy or a girl? Girl‚ boy
How many good friends do you have in your class(es)?
- None
- I have 1 good friend in my class(es)
- I have 2 or 3 good friends in my class(es)
- I have 4 or 5 good friend in my class(es)
- I have 6 or more good friends in my class(es)
ABOUT BEING BULLIED BY OTHER PUPILS
How often have you been bullied at school in the past couple of months?
- I haven’t been bullied at school in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice‚ 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
Have you been bullied at school in the past couple of months in one or more of the following ways?
I was called mean names‚ was made fun of‚ or teased in a hurtful way.
- it hasn’t happened to me in the past couple of months
- only once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
Other pupils left me out of things on purpose‚ left me out from their group of friends‚ or completely ignored me.
- it hasn’t happened to me in the past couple of months
- only once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I was hit‚ kicked‚ pushed‚ shoved around‚ or locked indoors.
- it hasn’t happened to me in the past couple of months
- only once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
Have you been bullied at school in the past couple of months in one or more of the following ways?
Other pupils told lies or spread false rumours about me and tried to make others dislike me.
- it hasn’t happened to me in the past couple of months
- only once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I had money or other things taken away from me or damaged.
- it hasn’t happened to me in the past couple of months
- only once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I was threatened or forced to do things I didn’t want to do
- it hasn’t happened to me in the past couple of months
- only once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I was bullied with mean names or comments about my race or colour
- it hasn’t happened to me in the past couple of months
- only once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I was bullied with mean names or comments about my religion
- it hasn’t happened to me in the past couple of months
- only once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I was bullied with mean names or comments about my disability
- it hasn’t happened to me in the past couple of months
- only once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I was bullied with mean names‚ comments‚ or rude gestures
- it hasn’t happened to me in the past couple of months
- only once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I was bullied with mean names or comments about my ability
- it hasn’t happened to me in the past couple of months
- only once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I was bullied with the use of mobile phones
- it hasn’t happened to me in the past couple of months
- only once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I was bullied with the use of computers
- it hasn’t happened to me in the past couple of months
- only once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I was bullied in another way
- it hasn’t happened to me in the past couple of months
- only once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
In which class(es) is the pupil or pupils who bully you?
- I haven’t been bullied at school in the past couple of months
- in my class
- in a different class but same year
- in a higher year
- in a lower year
- in different years
Have you been bullied by boys or girls?
- I haven’t been bullied at school in the past couple of months
- in my class
- in a different class but same year
- in a higher year
- in a lower year
- in different years
By how many pupils have you usually been bullied?
- I haven’t been bullied at school in the past couple of months
- mainly by 1 pupil
- by a group of 2 – 3 pupils
- by a group of 4 – 9 pupils
- by a group of more than 9 pupils
- by several different pupils or groups of pupils
How long has the bullying lasted?
- I haven’t been bullied at school in the past couple of months
- it lasted one or two weeks
- it lasted about a month‚ it has lasted about 6 months
- it has lasted about a year
- it has gone on for several years
Where have you been bullied?
- I haven’t been bullied in the past couple of months
- I have been bullied in one or more of the following places in the past couple of months
Have you been bullied
- a. on the playground/athletic field (during lunch or break times)? No‚ Yes
- b. in the hallways/ stairwells? No‚ Yes
- c. in class (with teacher present)? No‚ Yes
- d. in the classroom (with teacher absent)? No‚ Yes
- e. in the toilets? No‚ Yes
- f. in PE class or the changing room / shower? No‚ Yes
- g. in the lunch room? No‚ Yes
- h. on the way to and from school? No‚ Yes
- i. at the school bus stop? No‚ Yes
- j. on the school bus? No‚ Yes
- k. somewhere else in school? No‚ Yes
Have you told anyone that you have been bullied at school in the past couple of months?
- haven’t been bullied at school in the past couple of months
- I have been bullied but I have not told anyone
- I have been bullied and I have told somebody about it
Have you told (that you have been bullied)
- a. your class teacher? No‚ Yes
- b. another adult at school (a different teacher‚ the principal/ headmaster the school nurse‚ the custodian/ school caretaker‚ the school psychologist/ mental health professional etc)? No‚ Yes
- c. your parent(s)/guardian(s)? No‚ Yes
- d. your brother(s) or sister(s)? No‚ Yes
- e. your friend(s)? No‚ Yes
- f. somebody else? No‚ Yes
How often do the teachers or other adults at school try to put a stop to it when a pupil is being bullied at school?
- almost never
- once in a while
- sometimes
- often
- almost always
How often do other pupils try to put a stop to it when a pupil is being bullied at school?
- almost never
- once in a while
- sometimes
- often
- almost always
Has any adult at home contacted the school to try to stop your being bullied at school in the past couple of months?
- I haven’t been bullied at school in the past couple of months
- no‚ they haven’t contacted the school
- yes‚ they have contacted the school once
- yes‚ they have contacted the school several times
When you see a pupil your age being bullied at school‚ what do you feel or think?
- that is probably what he or she deserves
- I don’t feel much
- I feel a bit sorry for him or her
- I feel sorry for him or her and want to help him or her
ABOUT BULLYING OTHER PUPILS
How often have you taken part in bullying another pupil(s) at school the past couple of months?
- I haven’t bullied another pupil(s) at school in in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
Have you bullied another pupil(s) at school in the past couple of months in one or more of the following ways?
I called another pupil(s) mean names‚ made fun of or teased him or her in a hurtful way
- it hasn’t happened in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I kept him or her out of things on purpose‚ excluded him or her from my group of friends or completely ignored him or her
- it hasn’t happened in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I hit‚ kicked‚ pushed and shoved him or her around or locked him or her indoors
- it hasn’t happened in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I spread false rumors about him or her and tried to make others dislike him or her
- it hasn’t happened in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I took money or other things from him or her or damaged his or her belongings
- it hasn’t happened in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I threatened or forced him or her to do things he or she didn’t want to do
- it hasn’t happened in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I bullied him or her with mean names or comments about his or her race or colour
- it hasn’t happened in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I bullied him or her with mean names or comments about his or her religion
- it hasn’t happened in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I bullied him or her with mean names or comments about his or her disability
- it hasn’t happened in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I bullied him or her with mean names‚ comments‚ or rude gestures
- it hasn’t happened in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I bullied him or her with mean names or comments about his or her ability
- it hasn’t happened in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I bullied him or her with the use of mobile phones
- it hasn’t happened in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I bullied him or her with the use of computers
- it hasn’t happened in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
I bullied him or her in another way
- it hasn’t happened in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
Has your class teacher or any other teacher talked with you about you bullying other pupils at school in the past couple of months?
- I haven’t bullied other pupil(s) at school in the past couple of months
- no‚ they haven’t talked with me about it
- yes‚ the have talked with me about it once
- yes‚ they have talked with me about it several times
Has any adult at home talked with you about your bullying other pupils at school in the past couple of months?
- I haven’t bullied other pupil(s) at school in the past couple of months
- no‚ they haven’t talked with me about it
- yes‚ the have talked with me about it once
- yes‚ they have talked with me about it several times
Do you think you could join in bullying a pupil whom you didn´t like?
- yes
- yes‚ maybe
- I don’t know
- no‚ I don’t think so
- no
- definitely no
How do you usually react if you see or understand that a pupil your age is being bullied by other pupils?
- I have never noticed that pupils my age have been bullied
- I take part in the bullying
- I don’t do anything‚ but I think the bullying is OK
- I just watch what goes on
- I don’t do anything‚ but I think I ought to help the bullied pupil
- I try to help the bullied pupil in one way or another
How often are you afraid of being bullied by other pupils in your school?
- never
- seldom
- sometimes
- fairly often
- often
- very often
Overall‚ how much do think your class teacher has done to stop bullying in the past couple of months?
- little or nothing
- c fairly little
- somewhat
- a good deal
- much
(i) Does a pupil’s race or skin colour make them more likely or less likely to be bullied?
- More likely
- Less likely
- Doesn’t make a difference
(ii) Thinking about pupils with a disability does their disability make them more likely or less likely to be bullied?
- More likely
- Less likely
- Doesn’t make a difference
(iii) Does a pupil’s religion make them more likely or less likely to be bullied?
- More likely
- Less likely
- Doesn’t make a difference
(iv) What do you think about bullying other pupils because of their race or skin colour?
- always wrong
- sometimes wrong
- unsure
- sometimes right
- always right
(v) Thinking about pupils with a disability‚ what do you think about bullying these pupils because of their disability?
- always wrong
- sometimes wrong
- unsure
- sometimes right
- always right
(vi) What do you think about bullying other pupils because of their religion?
- always wrong
- sometimes wrong
- unsure
- sometimes right
- always right
(vii) Which religious community do you belong to? (Tick one box only) Community
- Protestant
- Roman Catholic Community
- Neither
- Other – please specify________________
(viii) Have you a disability? No‚ Yes
Senior Questionnaire
Replace this items at above 20‚ 23‚ 24‚ and 39
- I was bullied with mean names‚ comments‚ or gestures with a sexual meaning
- it hasn’t happened to me in the past couple of months
- only once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
- Have you been bullied by boys or girls?
- I haven’t been bullied at school in the past couple of months
- mainly by 1 girl
- by several girls
- mainly by 1 boy
- by several boys
- by both boys and girls
- Where have you been bullied?
- I haven’t been bullied in the past couple of months (if you place an X in this box‚ skip to question 24)
- I have been bullied in one or more of the following places in the past couple of months (continue below):
- Have you told anyone that you have been bullied at school in the past couple of months?
- haven’t been bullied at school in the past couple of months ( if you place an X in this box‚ skip to question 25)
- I have been bullied but I have not told anyone (if you place an X in this box‚ skip to question 25)
- I have been bullied and I have told somebody about it (continue below):
- I bullied him or her with mean names‚ comments‚ or gestures with a sexual meaning
- it hasn’t happened in the past couple of months
- it has only happened once or twice
- 2 or 3 times a month
- about once a week
- several times a week
Cite this article
Mohammed looti (2025). Nature and Extent of Bullying in Schools. Psychological Scales & Instruments Database. Retrieved from https://db.arabpsychology.com/scales/nature-and-extent-of-bullying-in-schools/
Mohammed looti. "Nature and Extent of Bullying in Schools." Psychological Scales & Instruments Database, 19 Oct. 2025, https://db.arabpsychology.com/scales/nature-and-extent-of-bullying-in-schools/.
Mohammed looti. "Nature and Extent of Bullying in Schools." Psychological Scales & Instruments Database, 2025. https://db.arabpsychology.com/scales/nature-and-extent-of-bullying-in-schools/.
Mohammed looti (2025) 'Nature and Extent of Bullying in Schools', Psychological Scales & Instruments Database. Available at: https://db.arabpsychology.com/scales/nature-and-extent-of-bullying-in-schools/.
[1] Mohammed looti, "Nature and Extent of Bullying in Schools," Psychological Scales & Instruments Database, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, October, 2025.
Mohammed looti. Nature and Extent of Bullying in Schools. Psychological Scales & Instruments Database. 2025;vol(issue):pages.