Call for abstracts

All contributions will be evaluated by two independent reviewers and the review process will be anonymous.

Scientific contributions that are empirical will be evaluated based on:

• Clarity of conceptualization and objective of the study
• Appropriateness of the method (is the method and its application appropriate for addressing the research question according to the chosen field of inquiry?)
• Relevance of the results
• Relevance of the implications for practice

Scientific contributions that are theoretical will be evaluated based on:

• Clarity of the objective
• Clarity of theoretical conceptualization
• Relevance for the anti-bullying field

Contributions from practitioners, policymakers and youth groups/organizations will be evaluated based on:

• Clarity of the structure
• Clarity of the objective
• Relevance for the anti-bullying field

Note: We will accept a maximum of 2 contributions from one person (as a lead author)

WABF 2025 welcomes presentations from researchers (1), practitioners (2) policymakers (3) and youth (4).

(1) Researchers from fields such as (but not limited to) childhood studies, criminology, education, gender studies, health sciences, law studies, media studies, philosophy, political science, psychology, public health, social work and sociology are welcome to submit abstracts.

(2) Presentations are welcome from practitioners from kindergartens, preschools, schools and other contexts where bullying can occur, practitioners from support systems for children and youth (such as children’s ombudsmen, school authorities, government departments and municipalities) and practitioners from the non-profit sector (such as children’s right organizations and antibullying organizations).

(3) Presentations are welcome from policy makers from both national and international levels.

(4) The voice of youths is important for WABF. Contributions from youth groups and youth organizations are welcome.

Projects that show how policy and research-based knowledge is implemented in schools, kindergartens, and other arenas are especially welcome.

The goal of WABF 2025 is to increase the understanding of bullying, cyberbullying and other forms of violence and discriminating behavior involving children and youth, and to promote prevention and intervention against bullying across different contexts. We seek contributions to increase knowledge about bullying according to recent research and experiences, and to promote collaboration between policymakers, researchers, and practitioners.

Types of presentations to be submitted for the conference will be

• symposia
• posters
• oral paper presentations
• workshops

Types of presentations

Symposium

Symposia are focused sessions including multiple presentations on a common theme, issue, or question characterizing the symposium. The presentations can consist of studies presenting research data, but may also have other formats such as discussions of contrasting viewpoints or implications for practice.

The time allocated for each symposium is 90 minutes. Each symposium has one chairperson (one co-chair is also allowed), who organizes and introduces the session. The symposium should consist of 5 presentations: either 4 presenters and a discussant, or 5 presenters without a discussant. The chairperson submits the abstracts for the whole proposal.

The symposium proposal needs to include the following elements:

• Title of the symposium (150 characters maximum)
• Integrative statement (250 words maximum)
• Chair details (name and affiliation)
• 3–5 keywords for the symposium
• Title (max 150 characters) and abstract for each individual presentation included in the symposium (max 250 words per presentation).

Empirical studies are expected to include these elements:

1) Theoretical background and objective of the study
2) Methodology
3) Results obtained or expected
4) Conclusions with implications for practice

Other types of contributions are expected to have a clear argumentative structure and present the theoretical background and the objective of each contribution.

If you are a practitioner, the abstract should describe the content, implementation, and/or outcomes of a project, and should be of general interest for the field.

Poster

Poster presentations can consist of data reviews, case studies, or theoretical insights about bullying.

Poster presentation proposals will include these elements:

• Title of the proposal (150 characters maximum)
• Abstracts of maximum 250 words.

Proposals for posters presenting empirical studies are expected to include the following elements:

1) Theoretical background and objective of the study
2) Methodology
3) Results obtained or expected
4) Conclusion with implications for practice
Other types of poster contributions are expected to have a clear structure and present the theoretical background and the objective of the contribution.

If you are a practitioner, the abstract should describe the content, implementation, and/or outcomes of a project, and should be of general interest for the field.

Accepted posters will be displayed physically in separate organized poster sessions. When producing a poster, presenters are asked to follow guidelines that will be shared after acceptance.

Oral Paper Presentation

Oral paper presentations can consist of presentations of research projects, theoretical insights and practice. Oral paper presentations will be organized in thematic sessions lasting 90 minutes, including time for questions and discussion. The time allocated for each presentation will be around 15 minutes.

Oral presentation proposals will include these elements:

• Title of the proposal (150 characters maximum)
• Abstracts of maximum 250 words.

Proposals for presentations of empirical studies are expected to include the following elements:

1. Theoretical background and objective of the study
2. Methodology
3. Results obtained or expected
4. Conclusion with implications for practice

Other types of contributions are expected to have a clear structure and present the theoretical background and the objective of the contribution.

If you are a practitioner, the abstract should describe the content, implementation, and/or outcomes of a project, and should be of general interest for the field.

Workshop

Opportunity for a group of delegates to be engaged in discussion and activity on a particular topic related to addressing bullying. A workshop can feature educational material, policy development, promising practices, applied research, or the sharing of experiences.

Workshop proposals will include these elements:

• Title of the proposal (150 characters maximum)
• Abstracts of maximum 250 words.

All abstracts are expected to have a clear structure and to include the objective of the contribution.

FOR ALL PROPOSALS

Please indicate the subtheme under which your contribution should be placed:

1. Bullying and peer aggression in early childhood education and care

2. Reactive strategies, implementation of interventions, and follow-up actions after bullying or cyberbullying has occurred

3. Proactive strategies and prevention of bullying and cyberbullying

4. Experiences of bullying in the school context

5. Protective and risk factors for bullying and cyberbullying within individuals and contexts

6. Bias-based forms of bullying and cyberbullying

7. Conceptual and methodological issues in bullying and cyberbullying

8. Bullying and cyberbullying policies

9. Other

Please also indicate what kind of contribution it is:

1. Scientific

• Quantitative method study
• Qualitative method study
• Mixed method study
• Theoretical contribution

2. Practitioner experiences
3. Policy
4. Mixed

Please note:
During the review stage, the program committee may change the presentation type to fit the conference program (i.e., oral paper presentation may be changed to poster presentation OR poster presentation to oral presentation). The presenting author will be notified of any change to their submitted presentation type at the time of acceptance. The decision of the program committee is final.

Submission is closed

Abstracts are under review. The acceptance notification will be issued in December 2024.

Photo: Sven Erik Knoff/Region Stavanger