Centre for Positive Psychology and Education

Linda Finger completed her PhD at the Centre for Positive Psychology and Education in 2009. Her research interests include: Children and Adolescence, Aggressive Behaviours, and Educational Psychology. Her PhD research focused on extending her First Class Honours research which investigated secondary school bullying issues to address primary school bullying and victimisation.

Qualifications
BA Hons (UWS), PhD (UWS)

Thesis title
Beyond Bullying Primary Schools Program: Implementing an effective whole-school program to manage bullying, enhance prosocial behaviour, and boost student well-being in the upper primary grades

Abstract
This thesis aims to: (a) assess the psychometric properties of instruments used to measure bullying and related psychosocial constructs for upper primary aged students; and (b) to comprehensively evaluate a new anti-bullying program, the 'Beyond Bullying Primary Schools Program' using a quantitative research methodology to elucidate the program's impact on bullying, prosocial participant roles, and related psychosocial constructs.

Thesis submission date
2009

Publications
Finger, L., Craven, R. & Dowson, M. (2006) Assessing bullying, being bullied, and self-concept : A psychometric evaluation of the Adolescent Peer Relations Instrument and Self-Description Questionnaire II for upper primary aged children. Paper presented at International SELF Research Conference, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA, July 2006.

Finger, L., Craven, R. & Dowson, M. (2006) Self-beliefs and bullying: Unravelling the relation between bullying, being bullied and self-concept for upper elementary school aged children. Paper presented at International SELF Research Conference, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA, July 2006.

Finger, L., Marsh, H.W., Craven, R. & Parada, R.H. (2005) Is categorisation best practice for school bully research? An investigation into the process of dichotomisation. Paper presented at the College of Arts, Education and Social Sciences Inaugural Research Conference, University of Western Sydney, Sydney Australia, October 2005.

Finger, L., Craven, R., Marsh, H.W. & Parada, R.H. (2005) Characteristics of effective anti-bullying interventions: What research says. Paper presented at Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) Conference, Sydney Australia, December 2005. 

Finger, L., Marsh, H.W, Craven, R. & Parada, R.H. (2005) Strengthening anti-bullying research: An investigation into the misuse of dichotomous variables. Paper presented at the Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) Conference, Sydney Australia, December 2005.

Marsh, H.W., Parada, R.H., Craven, R. & Finger, L. (2004) ‘In the looking glass: A reciprocal effects model elucidating the complex nature of bullying, psychological determinants, and the central role of self-concept’. In C. Sanders and G. Phye (Eds) Bullying: The implications for the classroom (pp. 63-106). San Diego: Elsevier.

Supervisors
Professor Rhonda Craven & Professor Herb Marsh