Caribbean Studies: Internal

Assessment Workshop
Where do I start?
 Choosing a Topic
 What social issue do I want to study?

 What is current in the news and affecting Caribbean society

 What can I learn from doing this research?

 You can brainstorm

 Be passionate about the topic – develop a bond between the topic and yourself
 Chapter One

 Problem Statement
 Research questions
 Rationale
 Educational value
 Background to problem
( 5 marks)
 Writing the Statement of Problem
Here is an example:

THEME: Underachievement of Males in a prominent High School

SUB THEME: Impact of male underachievement on psycho social development of male

students

PROBLEM STATEMENT

“A survey of the causes and effects of male underachievement on the academic development

and psycho- social development of students at Ridge High School.”

YOU CAN ALSO DEVELOP A HYPOTHESIS
 A hypothesis is a statement which suggests the possible answer to
your problem statement
FOR EXAMPLE:
 Problem Statement -“A survey of the effects of crime on the
residents of Mala village, St. Vincent.”
 Hypothesis–“Crime has negative effects on the residents of Mala
village, St. Vincent.”
 Rationale
 This outlines the reasons / purpose for doing the study

An example:

The main purpose of this research is to investigate the factors which have led to the increasing underachievement

levels of males within the secondary academic level. The researcher observed that majority of the boys within the

system are usually bored, distracted or have no regards with learning and participating in classes. The researcher

was also quite aware that this issue is prevalent in many institutions and generally poses as a problem after

schooling where males then seek occupations which they are not qualified for. This then leads to high

unemployment rates and places greater economic stress on the economy. The researcher deemed to do this

particular study in partial fulfilment of the CAPE Caribbean Studies course that is currently being pursued.
 Educational Value

 This section highlights the possible uses of the information to be garnered from

the study.

 Identify organisation or groups which deals with or are affected by the issue in the

study and say how they may use the information in their policies, projects and /

or programmes ( see sample in JOL Lecture series)

Sample Educational Value
 The importance of this research is valued that upon completion, the researcher will be able to

understand the causes and effects of underachievement among males in High Schools. This will also

raise awareness of effects, as majority of the boys will thus realize how drastic the implications

underachievement creates for them and that immediate change is necessary. This is thus geared to

lessen the number of boys wasting valuable time. Also, individuals of the school community will

also benefit from this study as it will give them better insight so they can offer advice and assistance

to these vulnerable boys. The school faculty will also benefit as they can strategize ways to stimulate

the interest of male students in academia as well a enable to find their purpose. 
 Background to Problem
Here you simply give a synopsis of the problem as it relates to the community and wider society.

Example

According to Carol Bainbridge a gifted child expert, underachievement occurs when a child's performance is below expectation

based on the child's ability. For example an individual who possess the ability to attain a 90% however, they perform at a 60%

projectile range. In earlier years boys were known to be the top performers, excelling well above the girls or at the same level.

Today in the Caribbean it has become evident that male students that are between 14-19 years of age are barely performing at the

level they once were. The academic underachievement rates for boys increase each year signifying that more are becoming less

able to perform due to various reasons such as distraction, lack of interest, poverty, depression and poor pedagogical skills of

educators in the teaching and learning process. These boys are affected in that some of them become truant, drop- out of school and

later become criminals of the society. It is for such reasons that the researcher decided to conduct a study to unravel the causes and

effects of male- underachievement of boys.

Definition of Technical Terms

 Define all the technical terms used in the study. For Example, underachievement,
pedagogical, behavioural disorders ect.
 Do not only use dictionary to define the terms
Chapter Two: Literature Review
 At this stage you are looking to find out what other people have said about your

topic in books, journals, articles etc.

 You should use 5 sources when writing your literature review.

 Use your research questions as a guide as to what to look for when reading.

 Sources used should be cited using APA style.

 Literature Review ( cont’d)

 For each article or book you should describe why the research was done, where

the research was conducted.

 Relate the information to your own topic/problem statement.

 Pages 19 & 20 of Jeanette Ottley et. al textbook explains the purpose and gives an

example of a literature review.

 An Example

 According to Miller ( 2011) Caribbean men were being marginalized by social forces largely beyond their

control. Today in the Caribbean it is evident that boys underperform at the secondary level. “Education and

doing well in school are seen as feminine and hence are rejected by boys who want to fit in and be a man”

quoted by Christopher Clarke in 2011. Evidence is shown in Jamaica where the issue is considered most

prevalent. Professor Mark Figueroa stated that boys are given a broader social space when compared to girls.

His reason for this quote is that traditionally girls are confined to a rigid lifestyle while boys are usually free to

do whatever they prefer. Digging deeper it is evident that the critic says girls have more structure which they

transfer into their studies. Critics thus state that one of the main causes of this issue is through gender biased

upbringing.
Chapter 3:Data Collection
( 4 marks)Sources
 State the method or methods of data collection that you are going to use for example questionnaires

and or interviews.

 Define what the methods are.

 State why the methods are appropriate for this study.

 State the nature of questionnaire which should include both open- ended and closed- ended questions.

 Describe the type of sampling techniques used. For example, simple, random, systematic, quota

sampling etc.
 How to write data collection
sources
 Paragraph 1: Overview of sources

 Paragraph 2:detailed description of how the survey was carried out and its

contribution to an understanding of the issue

 Paragraph 3: other sources evaluated for their contribution to understanding

the problem.
 An Example: Cellphone use in a
secondary school in St. Agnes
The main source of data on cell phone use in secondary school in St. Agnes from which the survey was conducted.

A sample of five students from each of the six form 4 classes was obtained from self selection( they

volunteered, and therefore one limitation may be that they are those students with a bias towards cell phone

use). This created a group of 18 girls and 12 boys. The questionnaire ( Appendix A) was administered during lunch

time in a quiet room. It consisted of seven closed- ended questions and six open-ended question related to the issue.

As soon as respondents answered the questionnaire they handed it in and then left the room. All questionnaires were

returned. This source was extremely useful in collecting data based on the fact that knowledge of variables

such as the percentage owing phones and bringing them to school, the time and use made of them provided

pertinent information for the analysis of cell phone use at the school.
Presentation of Data ( 8 marks)
 The maximum number of graphs/ charts is five.

 Use research questions as guide to present data from your questionnaire.

 Properly label graphs and charts

 Number all figures and tables

Ways to present Findings
 You should use at least 4 different ways to present findings.
 There should be a brief description of what the data shows on each graph.
1. Line graphs- shows correlations and casual relationships between two or
more continuous variables such as age, income or hours spent studying.
2. Tables
3. Column graphs
4. Histograms
5. Pie charts: must always represent 100% of group
6. Comic strips and cartoons: ideal for presenting interview data
7. Flow charts: Clarify different stages in a process in correct sequence
8. Maps
9. Pictographs and pictures
Line graphs
Tables
Column graph
Histograms
Pie charts
Comic Strips
Flow charts
Pictographs
Maps
 Use of Text

From the interview more data was collaborated with that from the questionnaires. Both girls said

that in most subject areas it is easy for them to excel more than most boys. However, they revealed

that most boys tend to do well in Mathematics and Physics. They also stated that not all boys

underachieve, although the majority does. They believe they perform better as they tend to read

more, study periodically, complete assignments, do additional research and use free time wisely.
Analysis of Data
 Analysis of Data ( 10marks)
 Do not interpret results that were not presented.

 State the trends observed for each research question and explain them.

 Note contradictions in the data

 Describe trends, averages and ranges

 Avoid a graph by graph analysis instead, examine related graphs together.

 Draw inferences from the data in relation to your research questions ( possible
reasons for the trends)

 Provide supporting statistics from the data presented.

 See handout for example

Discussion of Findings ( 12 marks)

 Discuss the answers to your research questions in relation to the literature

review

 Highlight policy and other implications of the answers for each research

questions
 Chapter 4: Findings, Limitations and
Recommendations ( 8 marks)
Conclusion
 Summarize your results and restate their educational
value.
 Put your results in the context of other research.
 Give your perspective on the problem.
 Limitations

 Criticisms of your methodology. This assures the reader that you know the

study’s short comings. Refer to chapter 3 to see how the methods,

instruments and sampling may have affected your results

 Explain how changes in any / each of them would give a better/ different

answer to your problem statement

 Recommendations

 Suggest at least THREE recommendations. They should be sensible, practical

solutions which could be easily implemented.

 Do not recommend activities or strategies which already exists as this shows

lack of knowledge of your problem.

Overall Presentation and Writing Skills
( 5 marks)

 Presentation and organization of Study ( 2 marks)

 Writing Skills: use of language, grammar, spelling, flow of ideas ect.

 Appropriate bibliography
 Layout and organization (relevant cover page, table of contents and
appendices)
The End