The Unacceptable Rise: An Investigation of School Shootings in the United States

This research study examined teachers\u27 understanding of risk factors and characteristics of potential perpetrators of school shootings, as well as the steps to take when they are identified in students. Participants completed a survey that contained Likert-type scale items regarding self efficacy and open-ended questions regarding school violence experiences. A mixed methods analysis revealed three primary conclusions. First, teachers have high levels of self-efficacy regarding the importance of and ability to deal effectively with troubled students. This conclusion suggests that teachers do internalize the relevance of this issue to them. Second, this study revealed a gap in terms of the explanation and distribution component of the IDEA model. More specifically, teachers are under-informed about how to identify characteristics of potential perpetrators and what forces may influence them to engage in school violence. Third, this study revealed a need for additional modes through which training modules and sessions should be distributed to prepare teachers to dissuade violent acts from occurring in their classrooms and schools