Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Theme: Music
Sub- theme: impact of dancehall music on society
Candidates name:
Candidate number:
Name of school: York Castle High School
Centre number:
Territory: Jamaica
Table of Contents
Literature review…………………………………………………………………………..........4
Presentation of data…………………………………………………………………………….9
Presentation of findings……………………………………………………………………….18
Discussion of findings………………………………………………………………………...21
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………….23
Limitations…………………………………………………………………………………….24
Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………….25
References……………………………………………………………………………………26
Appendices…………………………………………………………………………………...27
Acknowledgement
I would like to extend gratitude to all the individuals who have offered their help and support
which aided in the completion of my Caribbean studies IA. I would like to thank my Caribbean
Studies Teacher Mr. Burnett, my parents and my aunt for providing guidance during the process
Music
Sub-theme
Problem statement
To investigate the impact of dancehall music on teenagers in Brown’s Town Jamaica and the
Variables
Hypothesis
Research questions
On what area of teenage life does dancehall music have the greatest impact?
How can the negative effects of dancehall music on teenagers be mitigated by the society?
1
INTRODUCTION
Relevance of topic
Dancehall music has been a part of Jamaican culture since the late 1970s. This genre of music
has become well known not only in Jamaica but also worldwide. Many dancehall artists have
collaborated with other artists all over the world from various genres. But in recent years there
has been greater concern from individuals within society about the sexually explicit and violent
content which comprises most dancehall songs in this era and its effect on society, culture and
everyday life especially the lives of young people. The view held by some individuals is that
dancehall music acts as a tool which alters the morals, values and behaviour of young people in a
negative way. Young people are the future of our society, so whatever they learn and practice
throughout their childhood especially their teenage years will be carried with them throughout
adulthood. So whatever ideals and values they possess will be passed on to their own children
through socialization. Therefore this study is important in order to acquire knowledge of how
dancehall music affects teenagers and the ways the negative effects (if any) can be mitigated.
The study will be conducted in Brown’s Town, Jamaica to investigate the impact of dancehall
music on teenagers in Jamaica and the extent to which it affects them. Respondents will be
chosen from three high schools in the vicinity: York castle high school, Brown’s Town high
school and St. Hilda’s Diocesan high school in order to obtain results from different social
environments so generalizations can be made based on this information. The study will be
conducted in order to find out how dancehall music affects teenagers, the area of their life which
it has the greatest impact and ways in which the negative effects on youth can be mitigated.
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Educational value
This research project will be beneficial to many people but mainly for the research subjects
“teenagers” as they will have access to the information and they will be aware of how the music
they listen to particularly dancehall contributes to their lifestyle and behavior and be able to
Dancehall- This is a genre of music which was created in the late 1970’s in Jamaica and later in
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Literature Review
The effect of dancehall music on teenagers and young people is a highly controversial topic.
Most studies and other documentation provide information which support theories of the
negative impacts of the genre in comparison to the small percentage which interprets the effect
Crawford (2008) concluded that there was a direct correlation between the hardcore dancehall
genre and the sexual and violent behaviour of adolescents. In the study mentioned convenience
and judgment sampling were used in order to select respondents and this may have created room
for bias. Furthermore it stated that the females would be more likely to be impacted psycho-
socially than their male counterparts, and would therefore act upon the lyrical content they hear.
Whereas another study Crawford, McGrowder and Crawford (2010) found that adolescent males
were more likely to have numerous sexual partners than females. As this is the subliminal and in
some cases blatant message being postulated by a number of dancehall artist, it creates one
instance where the males rather than females are more likely to act upon the lyrics of dancehall
music. Respondents from this study were selected from all fourteen parishes to ensure that all
teenagers were represented across the island and adequate results were obtained that could be
used to make generalized conclusions. Schubert (2007) states that music evokes intense pleasure,
sometimes sending shiver and chill down the spine. This gives further support to the claim in
Crawford (2008) that sexual and violent behaviour directly correlates to the hardcore dancehall
genre as these feelings of intense pleasure can be a driving force behind the attitude, actions and
behaviour of youth.
Even studies done outside the region have come to similar conclusions. Martino, Collins and
Elliot (2008) found that listening to music with degrading lyrics is related to advances in a range
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of sexual activities among adolescent, as it creates a false ideal of the expectations of the
behavior of males and females in the region. According to Anderson, Craig and Nicolas (2003)
there was a correlation between songs with violent lyrics and thoughts or feelings of aggression.
It was stated in the article that the college students who heard a violent song felt more hostile
than those who heard a similar non-violent song. In addition the study focused on the exposure to
violent lyrical content in short-term settings, development of aggressive personalities and the
Dr. Gillian lowe, a child psychologist attached to the UWI hospital and the ministry of health
states in an article in the Sunday gleaner “parents urged to monitor their kids” (2009) sates that
parents should monitor their children’s activities to limit the likelihood of transferring negative
values. She also claims parents should explain why and also the consequences, so the children
are able to see your point of view clearly. This methodology may not work with all children as
not all children respond to their parents in the same way even when placed in a similar situation.
In the same article Dr. Winsome Miller a well-known musicologist from St. James concurs that
schools should take a proactive role in reducing the negative effects of dancehall music. She
argues that music education should be taught in schools and also encourages artists to focus on
The gleaner article “No link between dancehall and violence among youth- UWI study shows
link statistically insignificant” (2009) states that Dr. Donna Hope conducted a study among 300
15-24 year olds in Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine and clarendon in 2009 the findings of the
study were not accepted by everyone as it deviated from the standard perception and found that
there was no statistical correlation between youth consumption of dancehall music and violence.
The violence is mainly attributed to other factors such as poverty and peer pressure. Although the
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study employed the use of an adequate number of respondents, the respondents were chosen
from three specific areas. Therefore, it can be argued that the environment could have also been a
factor which determined the responses obtained. Each area in Jamaica differs as not all may have
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DATA COLLECTION
Research design
The research project is applied and quantitative in nature as it employs the use of statistically
based data collection source to investigate the problem which deals with the impact of dancehall
music on teenagers in Brown’s Town, Jamaica. This study requires the use of quantitative rather
than qualitative methods as the study seeks to find out how and the extent to which dancehall
music affects teenagers in Brown’s Town Jamaica. Therefore data has to be collected from a
number of sources so that generalizations can be made and major trends can be found in
comparison with qualitative data which is associated with in depth analysis using words.
A structured questionnaire consisting of 22 questions was utilized as one of the methods of data
collection in order to extract relevant firsthand information from the primary sources and make
questions. Furthermore the questionnaire was chosen as it can be completed in a relatively short
period of time and can be done at the convenience of the respondent. Data from questionnaires
can also be easily analysed and it ensures confidentiality so that respondents may answer freely.
There are three high schools located in Brown’s Town: York Castle High school, St. Hilda’s
Diocesan High School and Brown’s Town High School. Sixty questionnaires were distributed.
Twenty questionnaires were distributed at each high school and all sixty were returned. The
respondents were chosen through a process of systematic random sampling. The questionnaires
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were distributed at the entrance of each high school. Every fourth student who passed was given
a questionnaire to complete. Questionnaires were completed at the entrance of the school then
handed back to the researcher. Permission was sought from the principal of each school before
Collection of data
The study was conducted over a four day period from January 17-20, 2017. The questionnaires
were distributed to the respondents at each location. Respondents completed the questionnaire on
spot and returned them to the researcher immediately after. A few respondents were reluctant to
complete the questionnaire and had to be reassured. A small number of respondents did not fully
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Presentation of Findings
Sixty questionnaires were distributed to respondents. Thirty seven of these respondents were
female while twenty three were male. A total of 26 respondents were in the 13-15 age group
while other thirty four were in the 16-19 age group.
Figure 1. The graph shows the individuals chosen by respondents who they believe are in control
of the music children listen to. Eleven respondents chose peers, twenty four selected children,
five chose parents and twenty respondents chose the media.
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Figure 2. The pie chart shows the sex respondents believe are more likely to act on the lyrics of
dancehall. Ninety four percent (94%) selected female while six (6%) percent chose male.
internet 7
radio 19
television 12
peers 17
parents 5
Table 1. The table above shows the ways in which youths were introduced to dancehall. From
the table it can be seen that nineteen (19) respondents were introduced to dancehall through
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radio, twelve (12) through the television, seventeen (17) were introduced through peers, seven
(7) through the internet and five (5) through parents.
Figure 3. The conical chart above illustrates the preferred genre of the respondents. From the
graph it is evident that thirty nine (39) individuals prefer dancehall, nine (9) prefer pop while six
(6) prefer R&B. The preferred genre for five (5) individuals was reggae, one (1) individual
preferred gospel and none preferred rock.
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Figure 4. The pie chart above shows how often the respondents listen to dancehall music. It is
seen that majority of respondents which was seventy percent listen to dancehall music every day,
fifteen percent listen to the genre 2-5 times per week, ten percent listen at least ten times per
month and five percent listen to dancehall every few months.
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Figure 5. The bar chart illustrates the reasons why respondents like the dancehall genre. Thirty
six (36) individuals like the genre because of the beat and eleven (11) like it because of the artist.
Six (6) individuals like the genre because of the message and seven (7) like it because of the
popularity of the genre.
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Figure 6 shows that thirty five percent (35%) of young people felt over- confident after listening
to dancehall music, twenty percent (20%) felt angry, thirty percent (30%) felt angry while fifteen
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Positive impacts of Tally No of respondents
dancehall
Empowerment 1111 4
Popularizing Jamaican 1111 1111 1111 1111 39
culture 1111 1111 1111 1111 11
No positive impacts 1111 1 10
Boosts earnings in 111 7
sectors such as tourism
Tally chart showing ways dancehall positively impacts society and youth
Table 2. The tally chart above shows the ways in which respondents believe dancehall impacts
the society and youth. Forty three (43) respondents chose popularizing Jamaican culture, four (4)
selected empowerment while ten (10) said there were no positive impacts. Lastly seven (7)
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Figure 7. The bar chart shows the effects of dancehall music on respondents after being exposed
to the genre. Eighteen (18) respondents believed they became disrespectful to authority, thirteen
(13) felt no effect, twenty two (22) said they felt violent tendencies and nine (9) respondents said
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Figure 8. The doughnut shows whether respondents agree with all the sexually explicit and
violent messages in dancehall. Ninety percent (90%) of respondents did not agree while the other
ten percent (10%) agreed.
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Interpretation of Findings
Overall table 1 shows that most individuals were exposed to dancehall music through the media
whether it was the television, the radio or the internet but a significant number were also
introduced through their peers while only a small number said they were introduced by their
parents. This is significant as figure 1 showed most respondents believed that children
themselves, the media and peers exercise the most control over what youth listen to rather than
the parents. This shows that parents have little to no influence over what children listen to as the
musical palette of children are mainly determined through outside influences rather than their
According to figure 3 dancehall was the preferred genre of music among respondents but when
asked whether they agreed with all the sexually explicit and violent content of the genre ninety
percent did not as shown in figure 8. Figure 6 showed most individuals preferred dancehall
music because of the beat, the artist but the smallest number liked the genre because of the
message. This shows the relationship between figures 3 and 8. Most individuals liked the genre
because of aesthetic qualities such as the beat, the artist and the popularity of the genre rather
than the message, so even though they don’t agree with the content, it does not play a major
From figure 7 it was seen that only thirteen individuals felt no effect of the dance hall genre
while the rest faced adverse effects such as disregard to authority, drug abuse and violent
tendencies. The amount of time spent listening to the genre in figure 4 directly correlates to its
effects. Figure 4 showed that most individuals listened to the genre every day. Most behaviours
are learnt so most times whatever is said or done often and over a long period will more than
likely be cemented and transitioned into attitude, behavior and normal daily routine.
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Majority of respondents claim that dancehall music is one of the reasons why youth today make
so many irrational decisions and that the genre of music is partially responsible for the increase
in crime and violence. Therefore dancehall music results in impulsive behavior and a disregard
for the consequences resulting from this behavior. Individuals do not necessarily think before
From the results it was observed that most individuals believed that females rather than males
would be more likely to be influenced by dancehall music. Further most believed that the
females would be more likely to act on the sexual content of dancehall music. This is the main
theme in most dancehall song and they are usually geared to appeal to females.
Although dancehall music has some negative impacts the genre also has made and continues to
make positive contributions to our society. Table 2 showed only ten respondents from the overall
sixty believed that the genre had no positive impacts. Most respondents (39) selected
popularizing Jamaican culture as the greatest impact of dancehall music while seven stated that
the genre boosts sectors such as tourism. Dancehall has garnered worldwide recognition for
Jamaica and as a result of the popularity of the genre tourists come to Jamaica every year just to
Majority of individuals from the study (41) feel that artists should control the kinds of explicit
songs produced, 13 chose producers and 6 selected the government. Therefore to was seen that
most respondents believe the artist should be the ones to control the kinds of explicit songs
produced as they are the individuals creating these songs with all the” raw” music. Artists are
seen as role models to many youth today so these artists need to promote positive values in their
music. In addition most respondent believed that self censorship by artist is the best way of
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combating the negative effects of the genre. This further show that it is widely believed that
dancehall artists are the ones who have the power to influence our youth today.
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Discussion of Findings
The findings of the study shared numerous similarities with others done previously. The results
showed that the musical selection of children is mostly determined by outside influences rather
than their parents. Most individuals in this study experienced a negative change in behavior after
listening to the genre while only a small number were not affected in any way. The statement
made by Dr. Gillian Lowe in the Sunday gleaner article “parents urged to monitor their kids”
(2009) is fitting in this circumstance. She made the statement that parents should monitor the
activities of children to reduce the likelihood of negative impacts being transferred. As most
parents in this study did not seem to be actively participating in the control of the musical
Respondents also claimed that there was a link between dancehall music, crime and violence and
irrational decisions. The study done by Anderson, Craig and Nicolas (2003) also found a link
between dancehall and violence. Both studies show that dancehall is a factor that impacts
emotions and behavior. The hardcore genre manifests feelings of anger in some young people
and exposure to the genre over a long period could eventually lead to these young people acting
Schubert (2007) stated that music evokes intense pleasure, sometimes sending shiver and chill
down the spine. This is clearly shown from the study as dancehall music has the ability to impact
the behavior of young people after listening. Individuals experienced various emotions after
listening to the genre such as: confidence, anger, happiness and a small number were even
relaxed after. Dancehall music can be a powerful driving force in our daily lives because it has
the power to influence our emotions and how we feel plays a vital role in what we do, how we
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Crawford (2008) stated that the females would be more likely to be impacted psycho-socially
than their male counterparts, and would therefore act upon the lyrical content they hear.
Similarly the findings from the study also reflected that most individuals believe that females
rather than males would be more likely to act the lyrics of dancehall.
Contrary to The gleaner article “No link between dancehall and violence among youth- UWI
study shows link statistically insignificant” (2009) it was revealed from the study that there was a
link between dancehall and violent behavior. Some respondents claimed that they experienced
violent tendencies after listening to dancehall. Not all respondents experienced these violent
tendencies therefore factors along with dancehall music may have been the cause.
The study also presented evidence to show that most individuals believed that the best way to
deal with the negative effects of dancehall music was self censorship by artists. In the Sunday
Gleaner article “parents urged to monitor their kids” (2009) Dr. winsome miller also made an
argument to this effect as she encourages dancehall artists to focus on songs with positive
messages.
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Conclusions
The findings of the study showed that dancehall music is among some of the factors which
negatively impact youth today. Although in a few cases no negative effects were seen majority of
the respondents faced adverse effects from listening to the genre regularly over long periods. The
findings agreed with previous studies which showed that the dancehall genre contributes to the
violent and explicit behaviour of adolescents. It was also seen that dancehall music mainly
affects the response of adolescents to authority figures. Authority figures are more prominent in
the home and school therefore it can be concluded that dancehall music would mainly affect the
school life and family life of teenagers. Majority of respondents also believed that the artists are
the main persons who are responsible for combating the negative effects of the genre on youth
In addition the role of the parents cannot be downplayed as it was shown that parents need to
take an active role in the lives of their children as they are exposed to various influences both
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Limitations
While the study was conducted a few problems were noticed by the researcher that hindered the
study itself or created shortcomings in the study. The sample size of 60 individuals was not
necessarily large enough which may have affected the study where the conclusions deduced may
not have been accurate or may not apply to the entire population. The fact that questionnaires
were only distributed at schools could also be seen as a major problem. This is because some part
of the population of teenagers who do not attend school regularly or at all may have been
neglected.
A few individuals did not fully understand a few questions in the questionnaires so it had to be
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Recommendations
In order to reduce and essentially eliminate the negative effects of the dancehall genre on
adolescents a number of solutions can be implemented. Firstly the dancehall artists are the
individuals with the greatest influence so they are the ones who are in the best position to
alleviate the negative impacts. These artists can do this by simply censoring their lyrics and
reducing the sexually explicit and violent content in their songs so they can cater to the needs of
the younger generation as well as the wider populace. Other solutions to the problem include
workshops for teenagers to help them deal with anger and violent tendencies and music
education in schools.
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Reference List
Cooke, M. (2009). No link between dancehall and violence among youth-UWI study shows link
statistically insignificant, Jamaica Gleaner, 27 December.
Collinder, A. (2008). Parents urged to monitor kids, Jamaica Observer, 2 June.
Crawford, T. McGrowder, D. Crawford, A. (2009) access to contraception by minors in Jamaica:
a public health concern. North American Journal of Medical Sciences, 1(5), 247-255.
Crawford, A. (2010). The effects of the dancehall genre on adolescent sexual and violent
behaviour in Jamaica: A public health concern. North American Journal of medical
sciences, 2(3):143-145.
Schubert E. (2007). The influence of emotion, locus of emotion and familiarity and preference in
music. Psy Music. 35(3): 499-515.
26
Appendices
Letter for questionnaire
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Dear Respondent,
investigate the effects of dancehall music on teenagers in the vicinity. This study is being
conducted in partial fulfillment for the successful completion of my Caribbean Studies Internal
assessment.
You are advised to answer the following questions honestly and truthfully. Since you do not have
to write your names anywhere, no one will ever know who answered in a particular way.
Remember this is not a test. There is no right or wrong answers. Most of the questions can be
answered by a check in a box like this □. You are also encouraged to give specific responses
where necessary.
You do not have to include your name on the questionnaire and all responses will enable me to
Yours sincerely,
___________________
Asha Moodie.
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What is your gender?
Male female
13-15
16-19
Yes No
Parents radio
5. Did dancehall change your behaviour or personality after listening? If the answer is yes n
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7. Do you prefer dancehall to other genres of music? If yes why?
Message/lyrics beat
9. What is your emotional state of mind after a long period without listening to dancehall?
Angry content
Relaxed other
10. Do you agree with all the sexually explicit and violent messages in dancehall music?
Yes no
11. On what area of your life do you believe dancehall has the greatest impact?
Education spiritual
12. Do you believe dancehall has impacted this area positively or negatively?
Positively negatively
13. Do you believe/ think that the explicit messages portrayed in dancehall music affect the actions
of listeners?
Yes no
14. Do you believe that the dancehall music produced today is one of the reasons why young adults
of today’s society make so many irrational decisions?
Yes no
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15. Do you believe that the dancehall music produced today is partly responsible for the
increase in crime and violence? State your reason.
Yes no
16. What sex do you believe is more likely to act on the lyrics of dancehall?
male female
17. What lyrical content of dancehall music is the named sex above most likely to act on?
Sexual content
Violent content
18. Who do you think exercises the most control over what children listen to?
Children parents
Media peers
19. In what way do you believe dancehall positively impacts the society and young people?
20. Who do you believe should control the kinds of explicit songs produced?
Producers artists
Government
21. What do you believe is the most appropriate way of dealing with the negative impacts of
the dancehall genre?
Music education in schools Increased parental involvement in teenage life
31