Conflict management at lesisure-time center : A qualitative study on conflicts, conflict management and preventive work on conflicts at the lesisure-time center

The purpose of this study is to gain an insight into what the most common conflicts are between pupils in the leisure-time center according to leisure-time teachers, how the leisuretime teachers handle these and how the leisure-time teachers prevent conflicts. The previous research done in our study is based on previous thesis and research on conflicts and conflict management. The theoretical perspectives of the study are based on Johan Galtung's ABC model, Cohen's conflict pyramid and Arne Maltén's conflict strategies. The empirical evidence was collected through a qualitative method with interviews of four leisure time educators and an assistant principal. In addition, two observations were made on two different occasions in a school located in the Stockholm area. We analyzed our empirical evidence with help of Andrzej Szklarski's four categories for various reasons for the emergence of conflicts, Johan Galtung's ABC model, Cohen's conflict pyramid and Arne Maltén's conflict strategies. In our study we have found that the reason why conflicts arise between pupils can, for example, be due to a lack of occupation among pupils, envy in friends' relationships but also in disagreement on game and play rules. Another reason may be verbal comments where students disturb the play of other students but also conflicts that occur through social media where the students take the conflicts from home when they come to school. Based on interviews and observation we have seen that the leisure-time teachers usually handle conflicts by letting the ones involved in the conflict tell their experience of the conflict situation without being interrupted to then resolve the conflict together. It also emerged in our empirical evidence report that in conflict situations where the parties do not find a solution to a conflict it is possible that the leisure-time teachers may make a decision, especially if the conflicts have been going on for a long time between the parties. Good leadership and competent, present and educated staff are of great importance in order to prevent conflicts in the leisure-time center