Responding to a bereaved classmate: Comparison of two strategies for death education in the classroom

The major purpose of this investigation was to examine the relative effectiveness of two methods for enhancing the acquisition of facilitative statements toward the bereaved. As part of a death education course, 68 ninth grade students were randomly assigned to either a simulation game or a bibliotherapy-oriented condition. The simulation game intervention was found to be more effective. The study offers a framework in which death education techniques can be investigated in order to justify their further development and implementation. Results are discussed also in terms of future research.