A team of researchers at Penn State led by Joseph Squillace, assistant teaching professor of cybersecurity at Penn State Schuylkill, has been awarded a three-year, $1.78 million research grant from the U.S. Department of Justice FY24 STOP School Violence program to improve school climate through education, prevention and training.
The project, which will conclude in September 2027, will leverage virtual reality (VR) technology to create real-world scenarios, addressing issues such as racism, xenophobia, ethnic insults, sexism and sexual assault, and discrimination against those with disabilities.
First, the researchers will investigate school violence through the lens of the perpetrator and the victim to better understand why cyberbullying occurs in the first place, what environmental factors and socioeconomic predictors might help identify potential perpetuators, and when the traits associated with cyberbullying begin to develop.
Based on these findings, the team aims to develop a set of linked scenarios focused on classroom management and responses to school violence, bullying and cyberbullying - which will be implemented as virtual simulations for training purposes. These custom-built, evidence-based simulations will provide students and educators with a safe, controlled environment to develop targeted educational and training strategies, according to Squillace.
"Simulation use will allow school-based personnel to build their decision-making abilities for real-world incidents in a safe, virtual environment," Squillace said, noting that the team will also measure the effectiveness of these VR scenarios via surveys and focus groups with community partners. They will use that feedback to refine scenario design and enhance the effectiveness of VR-based training.
In addition to Squillace, other team members include Hakan Can, professor of criminal justice at Penn State Schuylkill, Juyoung Song, associate professor of criminal justice at Penn State Schuylkill, and Jeffrey Stone, associate professor of information sciences and technology at Penn State Lehigh Valley. The team will collaborate with Schuylkill Haven Area School District and Pottsville Area High School, with support from three regional law enforcement agencies: Schuylkill Haven Borough Police, Bureau of Police City of Pottsville and Bloomsburg Police Department.
"Cyberbullying is a pervasive threat that continues to plague society," Squillace said. "This research project will collaborate with the community we serve to provide an effective solution to combat the cyberbullying epidemic while simultaneously demonstrating the expansive research capabilities of Penn State Schuylkill and its talented academic faculty."
Squillace, Can and Song also received research funding for related research in cyberbullying through the Penn State Presidential Public Impact Research Awards Program, and in cyber education and pedagogy through the Penn State Commonwealth Campus Undergraduate Community-Engaged Research Award Program.
"While Penn State Schuylkill is a smaller Commonwealth Campus, the funding this project has received shows that we are completing research at the highest levels across the University," Squillace said.
