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SOCIAL STUDIES PROJECT SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT (S.B.A) (YEAR 2011) Name of Candidate: Richard Jess School: Greater Portmore Centre #: Candidates #: Teacher: Miss Josephs TITLE: Peer pressure among teens in my community- its nature merits and demerits

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Components of the S.B.A Page

Acknowledgement..2 Introduction.3 Statement of the Problem4 Reason for selecting area of research.5 Method of Investigation..6 Instruments used to Collect Data7 Procedures used to Collect Data.9 Presentation and Explanation of Data............10 Interpretation of Data.11 Findings.12 Recommendation...13 Bibliography...14

Acknowledgement
I would like to first thank the Lord for granting me with health and strength for completing this assignment. Secondly, thanks must be offered to my friend Andrew for guiding and throughout this project. Expression of gratitude must as well go towards my family for there financial support and the teenagers in my community for filling out my questionnaires.

Introduction
"Come on! ALL of us are cutting math. Who wants to go take that quiz? We're going to take a walk and get lunch instead. Let's go!" says the coolest kid in your class. Do you do what you know is right and go to math class, quiz and all? Or do you give in and go with them? As you grow older, you'll be faced with some challenging decisions to make, serious moral questions, like whether to cut class, try cigarettes, or lie to your parents. Making decisions on your own is hard enough, but when other people get involved and try to pressure you one way or another it can be even harder. People who are your age, like your classmates, are called peers. When they try to influence how you act, to get you to do something, it's called peer pressure. It's something everyone has to deal with even adults. Defining Peer Pressure Peers influence your life, even if you don't realize it, just by spending time with you. You learn from them, and they learn from you. It's only human nature to listen to and learn from other people in your age group. Peers can have a positive influence on each other. Maybe another student in your science class taught you an easy way to remember the planets in the solar system. You might admire a friend who is always a good sport and try to be more like him or her. Maybe you got others excited about your new favorite book, and now everyone's reading it. These are examples of how peers positively influence each other every day. Sometimes peers influence each other in negative ways. For example, a few kids in school might try to get you to cut class with them, or a kid in the neighborhood might want you to steal with him.

Why Do People Give in to Peer Pressure? Some kids give in to peer pressure because they want to be liked, to fit in, or because they worry that other kids might make fun of them if they don't go along with the group. Others go along because they are curious to try something new that others are doing. The idea that "everyone's doing it" can influence some kids to leave their better judgment, or their common sense, behind.

Statement of the Problem

What are the predicaments and responses adolescence encounter due to peer pressure?

What are the effects of Peer Pressure in school?

What are the methods that can be use to decrease the number of Peer Pressure cases in school?

Reason for selecting this area of Research

The reason which lead to selecting this topic are that, peer pressure is something that is extremely evident in my community among teens, without glasses to see. I myself was once a victim in high school; hence, I know exactly what these victims of peer pressure are experiencing. As a result, I chose this topic as I could easily relate to it. I also wanted to go even more indebt in it and to find facts relating to the impact it has on adolescences.

Methods of Investigations
For my investigation, I keenly observed the teens in my community. There were challenging at first; as my through my observance I had selected 15 boys and 15 girls who per pressure was evident in. The challenge I had with these individuals were there terrible attitudes; as result I had to find a way in wish I could bribe them so that I could speak with them and let them fill out the questionnaires. I came up with an idea to bribe tem with flex card; and yes it worked! 31 questionnaires and distributed them to 15 boys and 15 girls in my community and a copy for myself. I went out on the road on Sunday evening as I knew they would all be on the road and bribe each of them with $100 flex card then waited patiently as they filled them out.

Instruments Used to Collect Data

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Students Questionnaire

1. Gender: Male []

Female []

2. Age: 12- 13 [] 14- 16 [] 17- 19 []

3. Have you ever been in a peer group? Yes [] No [] (IF YES YOU CAN NO LONGER COMPLETE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE)

4. Have you ever been pressured by your peer? Yes [] No []

5. Was it good or bad? Good [] Bad []

6. What were you pressured into? Stealing [] Use drugs- [] Sex [] Others- []

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7. Did you think twice before doing these things, knowing it was wrong? Yes [] No [] Didnt care [] Just wanted to feel cool []

8. Who pressured you? Friend [] Family [] Boy/Girlfriend []

9. Did you think of the aftermath? Yes [] No [] Didnt Care [] Wanted to stop but was addicted []

10. Did you at any point wanted to quit the delinquent acts after thinking of what your parent/guardians would think of you or do to you if they found out? Yes [] Didnt really care [] Never thought of it [] Yes, but just wanted friends []

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11. Did your parents/ guardians eventually found out? Yes [] No []

12. Did you face the consequences? Yes [] No [] Yes, but it didnt change me []

13. If yes, what were they? Got expelled from school Flogging [] Went to boot camp [] Denied certain benefits I had []
[]

14. Were your parents supportive before and after this happened? They supported me but not [] They were disappointed [] Not at all [] 15. If no, was that due to the reason why you got pressured? No
[]

Yes []

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16. Due to your experience of peer pressure, do you now warn people of its merits and demerits? Yes [] No []

17. Do you think that someone can ever pressure you again? Yes [] No [] Maybe []

18. Did you learn a lesson for this experience? Maybe [] No [] Most Definitely []

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Presentation and Explanation of Data

Ages of persons that completed the questionnaires

12 to 13 14 to 15 17 to 19

Did you ever thought of quiting the delinquent acts after thinking of the consequences

Yes but just wanted friends Never thought of it Didnt care a bit Yes 25% 25%

30%

30.00%

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How where the consequences faced

60.00% 40.00% 20.00% 0.00% Flogging Got expelled Boot Camp

Denied Benefits I had in past

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Findings
Throughout this assignment keen attention was paid towards the answers given to the questions in the questionnaires. I observed that the major reason which leads to teens involving themselves in peer pressure was to seek friends and attention as a result of it lacking in the home. Each and every individual that was victimized by peer pressure learnt from their mistakes and presently warn teens about the merits and demerits of peer pressure. I observed that even though the victim was involved in negative activities, their parents were supportive afterwards.

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Recommendation
Both the parent and the child needs to develop trust , hence with trust, the family can develop effective communication amongst each other and through communication, if the child has a problem in school or lacks friends in school or just need family support from his/ her guardian, that child can go freely and open up freely with his/ her parents. Reason being is that, the main cause of peer pressure among youths is lack of family support.

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Bibliography Social Studies Book 3 for CxC Students