Using humour in peer-education: trials and tribulations of an action research project

Action research projects (ARP) in which students operationalise practical approaches to specific health issues are a compulsory element of the Queensland senior Health Education subject. As part of the ARP, the first Author was consulted by the second Author and her students regarding young driver road safety issues, interventions, and intervention evaluation. The “students” then developed a humourous parade presentation and three surveys targeting youth driving distracted. The aim is to overview the humourous peer education project, to examine the impact of the presentation upon “participants” behaviours; and to reflect upon the difficulties and successes associated with engaging researchers, teachers, and youth (students, participants). Seventy-six Year 11 and 12 participants (61.8% female) completed a pre-presentation survey (baseline survey); 267 participants watched the presentation and immediately completed evaluation survey one; 42 of these participants completed evaluation survey two a fortnight later. The results were: Baseline survey: 60% of participants had been a passenger in a car in which the driver was texting. Evaluation survey one: 77% of participants reported the presentation had made them think about their actions on the road as a driver and/or passenger; 33% of participants reported the take-home message related to active behaviours such as eyes-on-the-road and phone-in-the-boot. Evaluation survey two: 43% of participants reported they had been a passenger of a distracted driver during the intervening period. Translating research findings into real-world practice and policy is a challenge for all road safety researchers. Engaging with youth can also be challenging, and the school environment provides an ideal context for peer-based intervention. Researchers play a key role in translation, supporting teachers and students with limited resources.

• Record URL:
  http://acrs.org.au/publications/acrs-conference-papers/acrs-database/
• Authors:
  • Scott-Parker, B
  • Fox, T
• Conference:
  • Australasian Road Safety Conference, 1st, 2015, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
• Publication Date: 2015-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 11p
• Monograph Title: Taking action together: 1st Australasian Road Safety Conference (ARSC2015), 14-16 October, Gold Coast, Queensland

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adolescents; Before and after studies; Driver education; Drivers; Education; Peer groups; Schools; Young adults
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (road users)
• Geographic Terms: Australia; Caloundra, Queensland
• ATRI Terms: Adolescent; Before and after study; Driver education; Peer group; School; Young driver
• ITRD Terms: 9148: Before and after study
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01591506
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 26 2016 9:31AM