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Research Methods in Psychology Kayla White (Group D) Professor Nunez Research Methods in Psychology July 26, 2020 Introduction There has been an increase of school shootings in the US. This impacts the mental health of students in their daily lives, as well as it affects their school performance. Likewise, students experience posttraumatic stress from such events that impairs functioning (Stene, Schultz Jon- Håkon, & Dyb, 2019). It is estimated that students who undergo a school shooting should receive some sort of follow-up counseling or therapy intervention to address symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the DSM-V, PTSD is characterized by nightmares, flashbacks from a traumatic event, strong and persistent distress after the exposure, avoidance of feelings or thoughts, and avoidance of certain situations, events, people that could potentially remind the person of the traumatic event (APA, 2013). Other symptoms include shame, anger, feeling detached from others, self-blame, or blaming others, difficulty concentrating, impulsive, irritability, or aggressive behavior (APA, 2013). It is indicated that individuals who previously experienced multiple traumatic events are more likely to suffer from PTSD and show severe symptoms. Studies also show that students who had prior exposure to traumatic events, reacted more negatively after a school shooting (Siebert, Stewart, Hu, Estoup, Underbrink, & Moore, 2018). Some students seek help after a traumatic event such as a school shooting, but others use other strategies like alcohol and drug use to cope with the consequences. Many individuals who go through a traumatic event increase alcohol consumption, engage in risky sexual behavior, and have dysfunctional relationships (Siebert, Stewart, Hu, Estoup, Underbrink, & Moore, 2018). It is important to determine how students are affected after a school shooting. It is also necessary to see how students feel after a shooting and if they feel any negative or positive situation came out of such event. The purpose of this study is to determine how a school shooting has impacted the course of a student’s life, and to see if students feel more empowered after a shooting or if the negative impact is bigger than the positive one. It is hypothesized that students who were victims of a school shooting are more likely to suffer from PTSD which has many negative effects in their lives. It is also hypothesized that students who go through this type of trauma need to seek help to receive urgent intervention to reduce PTSD symptoms. Qualitative Design The questionnaire consists of ten questions, 1) Explain some ways your life changed after the event took place. 2) Have you ever been present in a similar event prior to the shooting? 3) Do you feel you have experienced another traumatic event after the shooting? 4) How did you feel after the shooting took place? 5) How did you feel years after the shooting? 6) Explain some ways your life changed after the event took place. 7) How do you think other cope with their feelings after being a victim of a school shooting? 8) What helped you assimilate the event? 9)

Research Methods in Psychology How did it change your views on mental health? 10) How do you think you can apply positivity after such event? 10) How do you think people can better understand victims of school shootings? 10) How do you think others can provide support to victims of school shootings? These questions are important to determine how individuals feel after a shooting, and how they deal with PTSD symptoms. The purpose of asking if they have encountered a similar traumatic event in the past is to differentiate between those not previously exposed to trauma, and those with prior stress-induced trauma. Since studies show individuals with prior trauma exposure are more likely to develop PTSD after a school shooting, questions that addressed this were included. It is crucial to note that some individuals might have experienced another traumatic event years after the school shooting, that could potentially increase symptoms of PTSD. Research indicates trauma exposure in adolescence and young adulthood may affect an individual’s psychosocial development (Stene, Schultz Jon-Håkon, & Dyb, 2019). Having an idea of how most people cope with a shooting is crucial to increase mental health services and intervention programs at schools. Qualitative Research Assumptions The information that will be obtain from the participants could show that more information on mental health should be provided to students, and the need to teach healthy coping mechanisms to decrease symptoms of PTSD. Role of the Researcher Although these questions can reveal how these individuals feel, it might bring many negative thoughts and feelings about the incident, so it will be important to debrief them after the interview, and check on their mental health afterwards. Data Collection 15 students who were victims of a school shooting in Northern Illinois University shooting in 2008 will be recruited to have an interview to address possible life changes they experienced and coping mechanisms after the shooting. An open-ended questionnaire will be used to gather information on how they felt after the shooting and how it impacted their lives years later. Students who were present in a school shooting will be chosen to describe their experiences. 15 students who were victims of a school shooting in Northern Illinois University shooting in 2008 will be recruited to have an interview to address possible life changes they experienced and coping mechanisms after the shooting. An open-ended questionnaire will be used to gather information on how they felt after the shooting and how it impacted their lives years later. Students who were present in a school shooting will be chosen to describe their experiences. Anticipated Findings School shooting not only leave physical injuries, but also psychological injuries as well. School shootings rip away any sense of control a person had and leave feeling vulnerable and angry. After a through Case Study design study on school shooting, it would be anticipated that students who have experiences a school shooting are likely to develop long term or short term effect. Some long term effects are traumatic stress symptoms and be clinically diagnoses with a

Research Methods in Psychology traumatic stress disorder such as PTSD (School Shooting, 2019). They are also likely to develop mood disorders such as depressions, anxiety disorders, and have concerns about their safety. These safety concerns will cause the rate of public school enrollments to continue to drop and the rate of homeschooling to continue to increase. Some short term effects are academic achievements will decrease, social and emotional growth will be effected, and severe distress (School, Shooting, 2019). Significant of Study This study will allow future researchers to understand how and why PTSD occurs after a school shooting takes place. Being a victim of a school shooting is very traumatic to humans as it instills fear in their lives that can have both short term and long term psychological stress/damage on a person. This study will also provide future researchers and psychologist raw personal information on how people who develop PTSD following a school shooting cope or how they are not able to cope and be provide immediate treatment to them that is catered specially for them. Many people who have been victim to school shooting now home-school because of the rise in safety concerns (Knox, 2019). This study will provide insight as to why the rate of homeschooling after a school shooting is on the rise and how to bridge the gap between school safety and education. Impact of Study This study of examining PTSD in school shooting victims will have a huge positive impact on bringing light to this tragic event. This study will make an environmental impact, safety impact, and academic impact. Environmental impact could be providing on campus mental health services that could be free of charge to these students, activities such as peer/group counseling, after school programs that provide awareness to disorders after PTSD, and much more. Safety impact could be revamping school security by installing more metal detectors, hiring more security officers, training teachers on different protection tactic when an active shooter is in the building, more trainings to the students on how to react when there is an active shooter in the building, and much more. Lastly, academic impact will be how to support students over all learning continuance after a school shooting. As school shootings are on the rise in the United States, this study will provide great impact future studies of PTSD after school shootings. References American Psychiatric Publishing (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Fifth Edition. Hylton, E., Malley, A., & Ironson, G. (2019). Improvements in adolescent mental health and positive affect using creative arts therapy after a school shooting: a pilot study. The Arts in Psychotherapy , 65 . Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2019.101586 (Links to an external site.) Knox, A. G. (2019, May 15). How school shootings are reshaping US public education. Retrieved July 23, 2020, from https://edmdigest.com/resources/education/school-shootings- reshaping-education/ (Links to an external site.)

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Research Methods in Psychology School Shootings. (2019, October 11). Retrieved from https://injury.research.chop.edu/violence- prevention-initiative/types-violence-involving-youth/school-shootings Siebert, E. C., Stewart, D. G., Hu, E. M., Estoup, A. C., Underbrink, E. G., & Moore, L. S. (2018). Post-traumatic stress and alcohol-related problems following a college shooting: effect of help-seeking. Journal of School Violence , 17(2), 180–193. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-018-1196-y Stene, L. E., Schultz Jon-Håkon, & Dyb, G. (2019). Returning to school after a terror attack: a longitudinal study of school functioning and health in terror-exposed youth. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry , 28(3), 319–328. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-018- 1196-y

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