The Paradigm Model of Cyberbullying Phenomenon

Abstract

This research attempted to fill the knowledge gap in
cyberbullying phenomenon by focusing on factors that
contribute to its activities among adolescents in Malaysia. The
research seeks to understand the antecedents and the contexts
and prevailing conditions that influence it, as well as the
phenomenon, the coping strategies and the consequences
resulting from the coping strategies. Using a grounded theory
methodology, in-depth interviews were conducted on adolescents
aged between 12 to 18 years from different schools in the state of
Perlis. The data were analyzed using NVivo 10 by methodically
coding and categorizing the data in open, axial and selective
coding to arrive at a model development. A paradigm model was
obtained based on informants’ individual comments and
experiences which uniquely contribute to the body of knowledge
on cyberbullying phenomenon in Malaysia. The involved
elements derived from the model are; the antecedents of
cyberbullying; the phenomenon; the coping strategies by
informants and the consequences resulting from these strategies.
The significance of this study lies in its attempt to provide a
working framework for reducing adolescents’ technology abuse
that will eventually lead to cyberbullying and to find solutions
for adolescents to tackle cyberbullying problems if it ever
happened. This study is hoped to benefit all the parties:
adolescents, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders to
minimize adolescents’ cyberbullying phenomenon.