Statement of Problem

What accounts for the prevalence of single parents in the community

Newland of and what measures can be implemented to assist these parents?
 Reason for research
The reason the researcher selected this topic is because my cousins are living in a
single parent household. They rarely get to spend time with their parents because
they have to work really hard to maintain the household. The researcher got
curious to find out if other single parents are facing the same problem as my
cousins are having. Problems like these should be carried out to investigate the
causes, effects and the possible solutions and who/what it has an effect on.
 Method of investigation

In order to collect data from the survey the researcher has decided to use printed
questionnaires as a research instrument consisting of a series of questions for the
purpose of gathering information for respondents. The advantage of this is that it
requires little time to be completed. It guarantees confidentiality since
respondents are not required to attach their names or any other personal
information. But the disadvantage is that persons might not always tell the truth
and it is also impersonal.
 Instrument to collect data
Dear respondents,
On behalf of a grade 11 student of greate rportmore High, I will
be sitting my CXC examinations in May 2020.
As apart of this examination, the researcher decided to create a survey of
questionnaires to investigate the main cause of a single parent family and how to
solve their problems.
In this questionnaire, the researcher seeks your participation in answering
these questions honestly. On this questionnaire your name is not required. Place
a tick next to the answer of your choice (there are no right or wrong answers).
Thank you for your cooperation.
Yours truly,
CXC candidate 2020
1. Gender
o Male
o Female

2. What age group do you belong?

o 15-18
o 19-22
o 23-26
o 27 & over

3. Are you a single parent?

o Yes
o No

4. What is your marital status?

o Married
o Single
o Divorced
5. How did you became a single parent?
o Divorce
o Death of Spouse
o Migration
o Separation
6. How long have you been a single parent?
o 1-11 months
o 1-5 years
o 6-10 years
o 11 years & over

7. What types of problem are you facing as a single parent?

o Long working hours
o Low income
o Little or no time with child/children

8. How is/are your child/children reacting to all of this?

o Delinquency
o Understanding
o Low grades

9. Other than you, who else assist you financially?

o Family & Friends
o Child’s Father/Mother
o Government

10. How do you plan on solving the problem?

o Getting a new partner
o Staying single
11. What do you think would be necessary to make your child/children
happier?
o Spending more time with them
o A day at the beach
o Taking them to visit their mother/father
 Procedure use to collect data
In order for me to collect data, I printed 20 questionnaires and went in my home
town. I placed one inside each person’s mailbox which I know are single parents.
When they were finished answering the questionnaires, they placed it back inside
their mailbox and I collected them the other day. When I counted the
questionnaires I received all twenty.
 Presentation of data
The bar graph below shows the age group from which single parents belong.

50% of single parents are 27 years and over while 45% of them are 23-26 years.

Divorce 8
Death 3
Migration 1
Separation 8

The Pie chart above states how they became a Single Parent. Majority of them
became single because of divorce and separation. The least is migration.

The Doughnut Graph below represents the Problems that Single Parents are
having.

Long Working Hrs. 6

Little or No Time with Children 9
Low income 5
Single Parents doesn’t get to spend time with their children. Low income doesn’t
seem to bother most single parents because their children comes first.
 The Pie of Pie chart above shows how children reacts to being in a Single
Parent Household. Majority of children seems to understand what their parent is
going through but 25% of them doesn’t and this seems to affect their grades.
 The Line Graph below represent how Single Parents plan of solving their
problem.

Staying 9
Single
Getting 11
a New
Partner

Most single parents decides to get a new partner.

The Clustered Bar Graph above shows how Single Parents plan on making their
children feel satisfied. Single parents chose to take their children to see their
mother or father since they are not seeing them daily. Others rather spend more
time with their children.
 Interpretation.

40% of divorce and separation is the leading cause of a single parents

while the least cause is migration which is 5%.
The leading effect of a single parent is 45%little or no time with the
children but 25%is the least effect of low income.
55% of single parents plan to get a new partner but 45%chose to stay
single.
 Findings
According to 40% of the respondents divorce and separation are the main reasons
why single parents became single. 45% of the respondents indicated that they
have little or no time with children is the leading effect of a single parent. 55% of
the respondents decided to getting a new partner as a means of affect the
challenges as a single parent.
 Recommendation
I recommend that single parents should find a new partner to help them with the
emotional effects of children and with financial problems. Parents can also
maintain a daily routine. They can try to schedule meals, chores, bedtimes, and
other family functions at regular hours so that their child knows exactly what to
expect each day. A consistent routine will help their child feel more secure and
help you feel more organized.