Social Studies

SBA

Name: Javaughn Whyte

Candidate Number: 0090
School: Lewisville High School Evening Institute
Center Number: 100564
Proficiency: General
Territory: Jamaica
Year: 2018-2019
Topic: Bullying at Black River High School

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 Table of Content

Title Page
Acknowledgement
Introduction 4
Statement of problem 5
Reasons for selecting topic 6
Method of investigation 7
Instrument used to collect data8
Procedure used to collect data 11
Presentation and explanation of data 12
Analysis and Interpretation of data 16
Findings 18
Recommendation 19
Bibliography 20

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Acknowledgement

On my way to finishing this task in my studies it would not be possible without the assistance of
some important person.
I sincerely want to thank my family the foundation of my success. I want to give thanks to Miss.
Laing for her assistance.
Finally I would want to thank God and all the people who had an impact on my life.

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Introduction
The Black River High School is a school that is located in the parish of St. Elizabeth. It has a

population of about 2,500 students. This is a Co- educational learning institution. Ihave been

a student of this institution for the past four years and during this time I have monitored an

escalation in bullying amongst students. Bullying is being mean to someone over and

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

bullying cause and effect upon a student who have been bullied at my school.

In the Black River High School there are many fears of the students: math, peer pressureand
most of all is bullying.
Bullying is when- persons seeks to harm, intimidate or coerce (someone perceived as
vulnerable)

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Statement of Problem

Topic: Bullying at Black River High School

What are the causes effects and possible solutions to bullying at the Black River High School?

As a student of the above mentioned institution I have noticed that the act of bullying has gotten
very prevalent. I have observed that some of my peers are both victims and perpetrators of the
act. Students, especially those in the lower grades, are targeted. This research aims to identify
the causes, effects and solution to bullying.

Definition of key terms

Causes- Something that produce a particular reason or motive.

Consequences- Something that happen as a result of some event or action.

Solution- A means of solving a problem or dealing with a different situation

Bullying – action used to intimidate others

Research questions
What are the causes of bullying at the Black River High School?
What are the effects of bullying at the Black River High School?
What are some of the possible solutions to bullying at the Black River High School?

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Reasons for Selecting Topic

The reason behind the selection of my topic is because I`m in the school system and see bully
on a daily basis preying on the innocent and vulnerable students. They prey on them for several
reasons. The most common reasons are:
 For money
 Lack of attention
 See people in the home doing it
 Uneducated
 Expose to drugs
 Ragging

And I see where there is a need to highlight these problems with can even lead to death and to
put forward suggests to alleviate them.

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Method of investigation

To investigate the problem, I have selected to assemble printed questionnaires, in order to put
together information for the survey.
A questionnaire is a set of printed or written questions with a choice of answers devised for the
purpose of a 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.

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Instrument used to collect data

Dear Students,
I have prepared a survey which is being carried out in this school, to find out the level of
bullying within the school community. 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 students.
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,
Javaughn Whyte

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 QUESTIONAIRE

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

1. Sex
Male Female

2. Which grade are you in at the Black River High School?

7-8 9-10 11+

3. Which age group are you in? From:

12-14 15-17 18 and above

4. Are you currently facing bulling at this institution?

Yes No

5. Who are usually victims of bullying?

Males
Females

6. Who are the main perpetrators of bullying?

Males
Females

7. What are the causes of bullying at Black River High School?

Peer pressure
To prevent them from being bullied
Bullies are abused at home
A need to be in control

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 8. Did you report itto the relevant persons?
Yes No

How many times you have been attack by bullies?

1-3
4-5 6 & over

9. Did the person you reported it do take action against these bullies
Yes No

10. What are some of the consequences of bullying?

Victims are afraid to come to school
Victims are stressed and anxious
Victims are depressed
Victims perform poorly in school

11. What can be done by students to prevent them from being bullied?

Report it to teachers or other members of staff

Report it to parents
Report it to the police
Join a group to prevent it.

12. What can be done by the school administration to reduce bulling?

Call in parents and have counseling session with offender and parents
Suspend offenders
Expel repeat offenders
Punish offenders
Public education campaign about bullying and its effects

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Procedure used to collect data

Black River High School has a student population of approximately Two Thousand Five

Hundred. It was estimated that about 10% percent was necessary to get an accurate conclusion

on bullying in the school.

A total of 140 questionnaires prepared and distributed to students. It was expected that at

least 130 questionnaires would be returned.

The random selection method of distribution was used. This means that students were

randomly selected.

A total of 140 questionnaires were distributed of which 132 werereturned. Of the

questionnaires returned 50% were males and 50% were females.

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Presentation and Explanation of data

A total of a 140 questionnaires were distributed to the students of the Black River High School

of which 132 were returned. Of the respondents 50% were females and 50% were males.

Pie chart showing the gender of students who participated in the survey.

Male
50% 50%
Female

Figure 1 show the percentage of males and females who participated in the survey. It can be

seen that 50% of the respondents were females while 50% were males.

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Table showing some of the causes of bullying

Causes of Bullying Percentage

Peer Pressure 50 %

To prevent them from being bullied 15 %

Bullies are abused at home 25 %

A need to be in control 10 %

Figure 2 shows some of the causes of bullying. It can be seen that 50% of the respondents

believe that bullying is as a result of peer pressure,15% believe that it is to prevent them from

being bullied, 25% believe that bullies are abused at home while 10% believe it is a need to be

in control of their situation.

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Bar chart showing some of the consequences of bullying

45

40 40%

35
30%
30

25
20%
20

15
10%
10

0
Victims are afraid to Victims are stressed Victims are depressed Victims perform poorly
come to school and anxious at school

Figure 3 shows some of the consequences of being bullied. It can be seen that 40% of

respondents believe that victims of bullying areafraid to come to school, 30% believe that

victims are stressed and anxious, 10% believe that victims are depressed and 20% believe

that victims perform poorly in school.

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 Pie chart showing some solutions to the problem of bullying.

20%
2
5
%
Call in parents and have coun-
selling session with offender and
parents
Suspend offenders
Expel repeated offenders
Punish offenders
educate school population
about bullying
15%
30%

10%

Figure 4 shows some solutions to the problem of bullying. It can be seen that 25% of the

respondents believe that the school should call in parents and have counseling session with

offender and parents as well as victim, 20% believe that the school should educate student about

bullying and its effects, 15% believe that offenders should be suspended, 10% believe that

repeat offenders should be expelled and 30% believe that offenders should be punished.

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Analysis and Interpretation of data
The survey was conducted at the Black River High School. Of the participants who participated

in the survey 50% were females while 50% were males. The majority students who participated

in the survey believe that bulling is very prevalent at the school. This is a reflection of the

society in which we live in, in which persons are no longer courteous, they do not respect their

elders and they believe that if they want something they can just be rude and intimidating to get

it. If a person is respectful and courteous they are seen as weak or foolish. Persons also fail to

report incidents of bullying because of the fear if it is known that they reported to the relevant

authorities they will be further victimized.

Figure 2 shows some of the causes of bullying. It can be seen that 50% of the respondents

believe that bullying is as a result of peer pressure, 15% believe that it is to prevent them from

being bullied, 25% believe that bullies are abused at home while 10% believe it is a need to be

in control of their situation. This is basically suggesting that persons become bullies to fit in

with their peers. They become bullies so that they themselves are not picked on and to look

cool.

Figure 3 shows some of the effects of being bullied. It can be seen that 40% of respondents

believe that victims of bullying are afraid to come to school, 30% believe that victims are

stressed and anxious, 10% believe that victims are depressed and 20% believe that victims

perform poorly in school. In recent times there has been an increasing instances where persons

bullied run away, commit suicide or even shoot up school. Luckily it has not happened in

Jamaica but these are some of the consequences of bullying.

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Figure 4 shows some solutions to the problem of bullying. It can be seen that 25% of the

respondents believe that the school should call in parents and have counseling session with

offender and parents as well as with the victims, 20% believe that the school should educate

student about bullying and its effects, 15% believe that offenders should be suspended, 10%

believe that repeat offenders should be expelled and 30% believe that offenders should be

punished. The school, government, parents and students have to do their part in stemming this

problem. A strong message must be sent to show that it will not be tolerated or else students

will believe that they can do it and get away. Schools should ensure that there are a number of

strategies to deal with this problem so as to stop it from spreading wider into the society. It is

these actions in the school which will lead to major crime and violence in society and as such

they must be stopped.

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Findings
From the research, the researcher has come up with a number of findings these include:

1. The causes of bullying at the Black River High School are: peer pressure (50%), to

prevent themselves from being bullied (15%), perpetrators are abused at home (25%)

and to be in control of their situation (10%).

2. The effects of bullying are very severe ranging from staying away from school, poor

performance in school to suicide.

3. Some possible solutions to bullying are: call in parents and have counseling session with

offender and parents, suspend offenders, expel repeated offenders, punish offenders and

public education campaign about bullying and its effects on victims.

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Recommendation and Implementation
At the Black River High School the students need to walk away, if the situation seems threating

or dangerous. Students need to report to authority so that they can put a stop to it. Bullying can

affect children in a number of ways not only does it have a negative effect on the social

environment, but it also creates an atmosphere of fear among the students. Bullying canalso

affect a child learning ability therefore there is an immediate need to address bullying in school.

The school need to inform parents at the Parents Teachers Meeting and inform them of the

problems that the schools problems, also teachers need to be more involve in there students

school life and try to get this bullying problem under control and teachers need to build a

stronger relationship and student need to report this matter and check up and the matter until it

is resolved.

To remedy the problem the school should:

1. Have a public education campaign educating students about bullying and the effects it

has on victims.

2. Expel repeat offenders/ make an example out of them so that others will not follow

3. Offer counseling to victims as well as bullies.

The school can implement recommendation one by

Have the guidance counselor address the entire school population on bullying,

having skits to depict incidents of bullying and how to report or deal with this issue.

They can also print pamphlet with information on bullying and issue to students.

Students can also be encouraged to live by the mantra ‘do unto others as you would

have them do to you.’

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Bibliography
Sandy Mervyn (2012) Social Studies Essentials for CSEC with SBA, Study Guide
&ExercisesCarlong Publishers (Caribbean) Limited.

Umraw, R.R. &Ramsawak, R (2012).Modules in Social Studies Fifth Edition.Caribbean

Educational Publishers Ltd.

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