CSEC Social Studies - Sample SBA

NAME OF CANDIDATE: Raheme Matthie

CANDIDATE #100086

SCHOOL: Oberlin High

CENTRE #100086

SUBJECT: Social Studies

PROFICEINCY: General

TERRITORY: Jamaica

TEACHER: Miss C. Hussey

YEAR-SUBMITTED: March, 2013

Social Studies Social Studies SBSBAA

TABLE OF CONTENT

Titles Pages

Acknowledgement 1

Introduction 2

Statement of Problem 3

Reason for Selecting Topic 4

Method of Investigation 5

Instrument Used To Collect Data 6

Procedure used to collect data 7

Presentation and explanation of data 8-14

Interpretation of data 15

Findings 16

Recommendations 17

Appendix 18

Bibliography 19

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The successful completion of this study would not have been possible without the assistance and

cooperation of my family members and friends, as a result I’d like to convey my heartfelt

appreciation to my Mother, Geraldine Johnson whom has given me reinsurance in terms of

information and also motivation in order for me to complete this assignment. I would like to

praise God for good health and strength that was necessary in order for me to complete this

study. Thanks goes out to my one and only aunt, Lourie-Ann Dyce my Grandaunt Miss.

Terrelonge and close friends of my mom, these persons were very instrumental in getting me the

necessary information and support I needed to successfully accomplish what was required of this

assignment.

INTRODUCTION

The George Mason Drive community is a small community, which is located in the District of

Lawrence Tavern, St. Andrew. It entails restaurants, a pharmacy, police station, post office,

wholesalers & retailers, bars hardware stores etc. It is estimated to be 15 miles from the nation’s

capital, Kingston. I have been a resident of George Mason Drive for the past 16 years, and during

this time I have monitored an escalation in the unemployment rate within this community.

Unemployment is the condition of having no job or receiving no salary or payment in a specified

field of work. As a result, I have decided to organize an assessment to investigate the level of

unemployment of persons within my community.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Topic: Unemployment

What are the causes and effects of unemployment in George Mason Drive, Lawrence Tavern?

REASON FOR SELECTING TOPIC

The reason for selecting this topic is because it is the foremost problem in my community, thus it

is important that an investigation be carried out to discover the causes, effects and possible

solutions to this problem. Unemployment in my community seems to be the foundation of a

variety of social problems. The crisis created when parents lose their jobs has had an effect in

providing the basic need of food, clothing, shelter and education for their families, in addition,

young people leaving high school and universities have been finding it more difficult to find

jobs. The activity of idle hands has caused an upsurge in loitering, theft, and appears to be the

leading cause of gang formation, resulting in negative behaviour and influences. There is also the

sense of hopelessness, inactiveness and health related problems such as depression, when

persons who should be employed are not working. However, while government has the power of

promoting economic stability and decreasing unemployment, the education system must also

take responsibility for providing skills and training for young people and the unemployed.

Training and retraining for available jobs needs to be accessible to all who should be working, in

order to decrease unemployment. I also urge that skills learnt should be used to create self-

employment in order to avoid the downfalls of unemployment.

METHOD OF INVESTIGATION

To investigate the problem, I have selected to assemble printed questionnaires, in order to pull

together information for the survey.

The questionnaire as a tool for collecting data has a number of advantages:

It can be done at the accessibility of the persons required to have it completed.

It is classified as persons are not obliged to write their names (ID)

It requires little time to be completed.

INSTRUMENT USED TO COLLECT DATA

Dear citizens,

I have prepared a survey which is being carried out in this community, to find out

the level of unemployment within this area. This survey is being conducted as an assignment for

my Social Studies SBA that I’m currently undertaking. I have decided to use a questionnaire,

which requires no personal information from citizen. You are advised to answer the following

questions honestly, since you are not required to write any names anywhere, no one will ever

know what your answers are. There are no wrong or right answers. All of the questions can be

answered by a simple tick in the box. Example. Sex. Male Female

Yours Truly,

Raheme Matthie

QUESTIONAIRE

INSTRUCTION: Please place a simple tick in the box (i.e.) according to your answer

1. Sex?

Male Female

2. How long have you been living in Lawrence Tavern, George Mason Drive?

1 – 5 years 5 – 10 years

10 years & over

3. Which age group are you in? From:

16 – 18 years 19 – 25 years

26 – 30 years 31 – 40 years

41 years & over

4. Are you currently seeking a job?

Yes No

5. Which institution did you last attend?

Tertiary Elementary Primary

High School Skills Training Institution

6. Did you complete school?

Yes No

7. If no, why?

Responsibilities Peer pressure

Lack of resources Financial problems

Other problems

8. Do you have any CXC subjects? If so how many?

0 1-3

4-6 6 & over

9. Do you have any child/ children?

Yes No

10. If so, how do you maintain the child/ children need(s)?

Begging Family assistance

Hustling Help from government

Stealing

11. Have you ever been employed?

Yes No

12. How has unemployment affected you?

Unemployment has affected me by:

Not meeting basic needs Having a decline in the standard of living

Not providing for my family

13. What do you think are the causes of unemployment in the community?

Lack of parental control Absence of educational opportunities

15. What can be done by the government to reduce unemployment in my community?

Provide more skill training Place extra emphasis on agriculture

Offer small business loans

PROCEDURE USED TO COLLECT DATA

The community of George Mason Drive has approximately 50 households. It was calculated that

100% was necessary in order to acquire a precise conclusion on the ratio of employed to

unemployed persons in the entire community (100% of 50 = 50).

A total of 50 questionnaires were organized and distributed among members of the community. I

therefore decided to choose the households by the process of random selection. 50 slips were

prepared each was distributed among all households. These persons were given one week to

complete the questionnaires that were issued. A total of 50 questionnaires were collected at the

end of the one week period.

PRESENTATION AND EXPLANATION OF DATA

A total of 50 questionnaires were distributed to the citizens, in which all were returned.

Of these respondents, 62% were males and 38% were females.

38%

62%

PIE CHART SHOWING # OF PERSONS THAT ARE EMPLOYED/UNEMPLOYED

Employed Unemployed

Figure1. It can be observed that 62% of the respondents in the George Mason Drive community

are unemployed, while the other 38% are employed.

BAR GRAPH SHOWING HOW PERSONS THAT ARE UNEMPLOYED MAINTAIN THEIR CHILD/ CHILDREN NEEDS

Family assistance

Begging

Hustling

Stealing

Help from government

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

Figure2. In this representation it can be seen that 40% sustained the needs of their child/ children

by the aid of family members. 30% responded that they had to hustle to maintain their child/

children needs. 20% turned to begging. No respondent selected that the government assisted

them. Stealing, no one responded that they had to steal to maintain their child/ children needs.

% Of persons seeking a Job80%

% Of persons whom are not seeking a job

20%

PIE CHART SHOWING % OF PERSONS WHO ARE SEEKING A JOB AND THOSE WHO AREN'T

Figure3. In this figure the numbers of persons currently seeking a job shown and those who

aren’t are shown out of 100%, whereas 80% said they are seeking a job, while the remaining

20% are not seeking a job.

Employed30%

Unemployed70%

PIE CHART SHOWING % OF MALES WHO ARE EMPLOYED AND THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED

Figure4. In this pie chart is can be seen that 70% which included most males are currently

unemployed, while 30% are employed.

Employed80%

Unemployed20%

PIE CHART SHOWING % OF FEMALES WHO ARE EMPLOYED AND THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED

Figure5. This shows the relationship between employed and unemployed females.

80% of females are employed, while 20% are left unemployed

16 - 18 yrs 19 - 25 yrs 26 - 40 yrs 41 yrs & over0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

CHART SHOWING AGE GROUP OF PERSONS WHO HAVE RESPONDED(IN PERCENTAGE)

Figure6. It can be seen that 46% are from ages 19-25, 30% from ages 26-40, 14% from ages 16-

18 and 10% from 41 years and over.

TABLE SHOWING REASONS WHY PEOPLE DID NOT COMPLETE SCHOOL

Reasons why persons did not complete school

Percentage amount

Peer pressure 40%

Lack of resources 16%

Responsibilities 4%

Other problems 14%

Financial problems 26%

Figure7. 40% of respondents answered peer pressure. 26% responded financial problems.

Responsibilities accumulated 4% of the respondents. 16% of respondents said that lack of

resources was their answers for not completing school. Other problems accumulated 14% of the

respondents.

INTERPRETATION OF DATA

In doing my survey of George Mason Drive, out of 50 persons, 31 are males while the other 19

are females. The information that was gathered stated that 75% of respondents did not complete

school; this was because of a number of factors. These factors include: peer pressure, financial

problems, responsibilities, lack of resources, and other problems. Peer pressure is one of the

major factors why persons did not complete school out of 50 persons, 20 persons succumbed to

peer pressure, which involved: smoking, drinking excessively, fighting, caring illegal weapons

etc. 13 persons had difficulty with financial problems, these include: difficulty with lunch money

and paying school fee.2 persons had different responsibilities to take care of such as: disabled

relatives, pregnancy and a child or children. 8 persons were lack in resources such as

stationeries, a pair of shoe, uniforms, and a school bag. Then lastly the remaining 7 persons had

other problems.

Age group of persons who are involved in the questionnaire, out of 100% of the respondents, the

highest amount of respondents came from the ages 19-25 yrs which accounted for 46% (23

persons) . The second highest count came from the ages 26-30 yrs which had 30% (15 persons)

responding, between the ages 16-18 years 14% (7 persons) responded, and 10% (5 persons) were

between the ages 41yrs & over. It can be concluded that the ages between 19-25 yrs received and

answered the questionnaire mostly and the ages between 41 yrs & over received and answered

the questionnaire least.

Figure 5 shows the relationship between employed and unemployed females, out of 100%. 80%

(40 persons) showed that most females are employed, and 20% (10 persons) shows that the least

number of females are unemployed. In this survey it can be concluded that there are more

employed females, than there are employed females.

The relationship shown between employed and unemployed males, out of 100%, 70% (35

persons) the majority portrays unemployed males, the remaining 30% (15 persons) shows

employed males. It is indicated that most males are either having difficulty finding a job or are

not looking for a job, thus they are unemployed, and lesser amounts of males currently have a

job.

The persons seeking a job, out of 100% in this diagram it can be shown that more persons are

seeking a job than those who aren’t. The number of persons not seeking shows 38% or (19

persons) could include: persons over the legal working age (for males 70 and females 62),

persons who are disabled. 62% or (31 persons) are currently seeking a job reason why could

include poverty. The economic level or “the price for living” is getting higher and higher each

year; these are factors that contribute to people being unemployed and seeking jobs. Many

persons want to live a better life for themselves and their family so they often times head out into

the job market looking to find a job.

Ways in which unemployed persons maintain the needs and wants of their child/children. Out of

100% of the respondents, 40% which accounted for (20 persons) receive help from family

members which included clothes, books, money, and other essentials. 20% which accounted for

(10 persons) say they receive help from hustling. These acts include: selling goods and or

services. 30% (15 persons) of the respondents beg to provide for their child needs. 10% or (5

persons) received help from the government. None of the respondents selected that stealing was

a means of providing for their child/children needs. Due to these results, it can be concluded that

most persons in the area are supported by family members.

In figure 1 it can be observed that there is a greater number of unemployed persons living in the

community of George Mason Drive, and lesser are employed. 62% (31 persons) accounted for

unemployed persons whilst, 38% or (19 persons) accounted for employed persons.

FINDINGS

During my research I have acquired a compilation of information with which regards to

unemployment in George Mason Drive. These are as follows:

58% or (29) of the respondents from the questionnaire are males.

Most unemployed persons maintain their child/children needs, primarily with the aid of

family members.

40% of persons who have responded are from the ages 19-25. This means that the mean

age of unemployed persons are from these age groups.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The importance of persons being employed plays a major part in our society today; it simply means that less persons would be unemployed, hence resulting in a significant drop in the unemployment rate within the community and the country at large. Community members should see to it that both parents and children are educated, so as to have a better chance of being employed in the future.

Unemployment is one of the leading causes of crime and violence, this is because people’s time is not being occupied by some sort of activity (job), and therefore I recommend more jobs for persons who are illiterate, skilled and unskilled and those who haven’t completed school.

I strongly recommend the local government and the necessary authorities be notified about the lack of jobs within our economy and also to inform the public about the causes and effects of unemployment. This can be achieved by broadcasting the information via the media which includes:

1. The television2. Radio3. Newspaper

Also the government can go about this by dispatching social workers to different communities, advising them about unemployment.

In the process of making these recommendations the strategies that I would implement, to undertake these problems are as follows:

The intervention of the local government and labor organizations to develop more job schemes based on specialized skills and advising them on the state of unemployment within our community, and asking them to provide more jobs for all groups of people.

Institute measures so that all children attend, at least primary school. Invite guess speakers to attend a forum, to advise the community about the causes and

effects of unemployment.

APPENDIX

UNEMPLOYMUNEMPLOYMENT RISEENT RISE

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Grayson, M. C. (2010). Social Studies Essemtials New Edition. Kingston, Jamaica: Carlong Publishers.

Umraw, R. R. (2001). Modules in Social Studies Third Edition. Trinidad: Caribbean Educational Publishers.