Social Studies

SBA

NAME OF CANDIDATE: Raheme Matthie

CANDIDATE #100086
SCHOOL: Oberlin High
CENTRE #100086
SUBJECT: Social Studies
PROFICEINCY: General
TERRITORY: Jamaica
TEACHER: Miss C. Hussey
YEAR-SUBMITTED: March, 2013

TABLE OF CONTENT
Titles

Pages

Acknowledgement

Introduction

Statement of Problem

Reason for Selecting Topic

Method of Investigation

Instrument Used To Collect Data

Procedure used to collect data

Presentation and explanation of data

8-14

Interpretation of data

15

Findings

16

Recommendations

17

Appendix

18

Bibliography

19

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The successful completion of this study would not have been possible without the assistance and
cooperation of my family members and friends, as a result Id like to convey my heartfelt
appreciation to my Mother, Geraldine Johnson whom has given me reinsurance in terms of
information and also motivation in order for me to complete this assignment. I would like to
praise God for good health and strength that was necessary in order for me to complete this
study. Thanks goes out to my one and only aunt, Lourie-Ann Dyce my Grandaunt Miss.
Terrelonge and close friends of my mom, these persons were very instrumental in getting me the
necessary information and support I needed to successfully accomplish what was required of this
assignment.

INTRODUCTION

The George Mason Drive community is a small community, which is located in the District of
Lawrence Tavern, St. Andrew. It entails restaurants, a pharmacy, police station, post office,
wholesalers & retailers, bars hardware stores etc. It is estimated to be 15 miles from the nations
capital, Kingston. I have been a resident of George Mason Drive for the past 16 years, and during
this time I have monitored an escalation in the unemployment rate within this community.
Unemployment is the condition of having no job or receiving no salary or payment in a specified
field of work. As a result, I have decided to organize an assessment to investigate the level of
unemployment of persons within my community.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Topic: Unemployment
What are the causes and effects of unemployment in George Mason Drive, Lawrence Tavern?

REASON FOR SELECTING TOPIC

The reason for selecting this topic is because it is the foremost problem in my community, thus it
is important that an investigation be carried out to discover the causes, effects and possible
solutions to this problem. Unemployment in my community seems to be the foundation of a
variety of social problems. The crisis created when parents lose their jobs has had an effect in
providing the basic need of food, clothing, shelter and education for their families, in addition,
young people leaving high school and universities have been finding it more difficult to find
jobs. The activity of idle hands has caused an upsurge in loitering, theft, and appears to be the
leading cause of gang formation, resulting in negative behaviour and influences. There is also the
sense of hopelessness, inactiveness and health related problems such as depression, when
persons who should be employed are not working. However, while government has the power of
promoting economic stability and decreasing unemployment, the education system must also
take responsibility for providing skills and training for young people and the unemployed.
Training and retraining for available jobs needs to be accessible to all who should be working, in
order to decrease unemployment. I also urge that skills learnt should be used to create selfemployment in order to avoid the downfalls of unemployment.

METHOD OF INVESTIGATION

To investigate the problem, I have selected to assemble printed questionnaires, in order to pull
together information for the 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.

INSTRUMENT USED TO COLLECT DATA

Dear citizens,
I have prepared a survey which is being carried out in this community, to find out
the level of unemployment within this area. This survey is being conducted as an assignment for
my Social Studies SBA that Im currently undertaking. I have decided to use a questionnaire,
which requires no personal information from citizen. 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,
Raheme Matthie

QUESTIONAIRE
INSTRUCTION: Please place a simple tick in the box (i.e.)

according to your answer

1. Sex?
Male

Female

2. How long have you been living in Lawrence Tavern, George Mason Drive?
1 5 years

5 10 years

10 years & over

3. Which age group are you in? From:

16 18 years

19 25 years

26 30 years

31 40 years

41 years & over

4. Are you currently seeking a job?

Yes

No

5. Which institution did you last attend?

Tertiary

Elementary

High School

Skills Training Institution

6. Did you complete school?

Yes

No

Primary

7. If no, why?
Responsibilities

Peer pressure

Lack of resources

Financial problems

Other problems

8. Do you have any CXC subjects? If so how many?

0

1-3

4-6

6 & over

9. Do you have any child/ children?

Yes

No

10. If so, how do you maintain the child/ children need(s)?

Begging

Family assistance

Hustling

Help from government

Stealing

11. Have you ever been employed?

Yes

No

12. How has unemployment affected you?

Unemployment has affected me by:
Not meeting basic needs
Not providing for my family

Having a decline in the standard of living

13. What do you think are the causes of unemployment in the community?
Lack of parental control

Absence of educational opportunities

15. What can be done by the government to reduce unemployment in my community?

Provide more skill training
Offer small business loans

Place extra emphasis on agriculture

PROCEDURE USED TO COLLECT DATA

The community of George Mason Drive has approximately 50 households. It was calculated that
100% was necessary in order to acquire a precise conclusion on the ratio of employed to
unemployed persons in the entire community (100% of 50 = 50).
A total of 50 questionnaires were organized and distributed among members of the community. I
therefore decided to choose the households by the process of random selection. 50 slips were
prepared each was distributed among all households. These persons were given one week to
complete the questionnaires that were issued. A total of 50 questionnaires were collected at the
end of the one week period.

PRESENTATION AND EXPLANATION OF DATA

A total of 50 questionnaires were distributed to the citizens, in which all were returned.
Of these respondents, 62% were males and 38% were females.

PIE CHART SHOWING # OF PERSONS THAT ARE EMPLOYED/UNEMPLOYED

Employed

Unemployed

38%

62%

Figure1. It can be observed that 62% of the respondents in the George Mason Drive community
are unemployed, while the other 38% are employed.

BAR GRAPH SHOWING HOW PERSONS THAT ARE

UNEMPLOYED MAINTAIN THEIR CHILD/ CHILDREN NEEDS

Figure2. In this representation it can be seen that 40% sustained the needs of their child/ children
by the aid of family members. 30% responded that they had to hustle to maintain their child/
children needs. 20% turned to begging. No respondent selected that the government assisted
them. Stealing, no one responded that they had to steal to maintain their child/ children needs.

PIE CHART SHOWING % OF PERSONS WHO ARE SEEKING A JOB AND THOSE WHO AREN'T

% Of persons whom are not seeking a job; 20%

% Of persons seeking a Job; 80%

Figure3. In this figure the numbers of persons currently seeking a job shown and those who
arent are shown out of 100%, whereas 80% said they are seeking a job, while the remaining
20% are not seeking a job.

PIE CHART SHOWING % OF MALES WHO ARE EMPLOYED AND THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED

Employed; 30%

Unemployed; 70%

Figure4. In this pie chart is can be seen that 70% which included most males are currently
unemployed, while 30% are employed.

PIE CHART SHOWING % OF FEMALES WHO ARE EMPLOYED AND THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED

Unemployed; 20%

Employed; 80%

Figure5. This shows the relationship between employed and unemployed females.
80% of females are employed, while 20% are left unemployed

CHART SHOWING AGE GROUP OF PERSONS WHO HAVE RESPONDED(IN PERCENTAGE)

Figure6. It can be seen that 46% are from ages 19-25, 30% from ages 26-40, 14% from ages 1618 and 10% from 41 years and over.

TABLE SHOWING REASONS WHY PEOPLE DID NOT

COMPLETE SCHOOL

Reasons why persons did

not complete school

Percentage amount

Peer pressure

40%

Lack of resources

16%

Responsibilities

4%

Other problems

14%

Financial problems

26%

Figure7. 40% of respondents answered peer pressure. 26% responded financial problems.
Responsibilities accumulated 4% of the respondents. 16% of respondents said that lack of
resources was their answers for not completing school. Other problems accumulated 14% of the
respondents.

INTERPRETATION OF DATA

In doing my survey of George Mason Drive, out of 50 persons, 31 are males while the other 19
are females. The information that was gathered stated that 75% of respondents did not complete
school; this was because of a number of factors. These factors include: peer pressure, financial
problems, responsibilities, lack of resources, and other problems. Peer pressure is one of the
major factors why persons did not complete school out of 50 persons, 20 persons succumbed to
peer pressure, which involved: smoking, drinking excessively, fighting, caring illegal weapons
etc. 13 persons had difficulty with financial problems, these include: difficulty with lunch money
and paying school fee.2 persons had different responsibilities to take care of such as: disabled
relatives, pregnancy and a child or children. 8 persons were lack in resources such as
stationeries, a pair of shoe, uniforms, and a school bag. Then lastly the remaining 7 persons had
other problems.
Age group of persons who are involved in the questionnaire, out of 100% of the respondents, the
highest amount of respondents came from the ages 19-25 yrs which accounted for 46% (23
persons) . The second highest count came from the ages 26-30 yrs which had 30% (15 persons)
responding, between the ages 16-18 years 14% (7 persons) responded, and 10% (5 persons) were
between the ages 41yrs & over. It can be concluded that the ages between 19-25 yrs received and
answered the questionnaire mostly and the ages between 41 yrs & over received and answered
the questionnaire least.
Figure 5 shows the relationship between employed and unemployed females, out of 100%. 80%
(40 persons) showed that most females are employed, and 20% (10 persons) shows that the least
number of females are unemployed. In this survey it can be concluded that there are more
employed females, than there are employed females.
The relationship shown between employed and unemployed males, out of 100%, 70% (35
persons) the majority portrays unemployed males, the remaining 30% (15 persons) shows
employed males. It is indicated that most males are either having difficulty finding a job or are
not looking for a job, thus they are unemployed, and lesser amounts of males currently have a
job.

The persons seeking a job, out of 100% in this diagram it can be shown that more persons are
seeking a job than those who arent. The number of persons not seeking shows 38% or (19
persons) could include: persons over the legal working age (for males 70 and females 62),
persons who are disabled. 62% or (31 persons) are currently seeking a job reason why could
include poverty. The economic level or the price for living is getting higher and higher each
year; these are factors that contribute to people being unemployed and seeking jobs. Many
persons want to live a better life for themselves and their family so they often times head out into
the job market looking to find a job.
Ways in which unemployed persons maintain the needs and wants of their child/children. Out of
100% of the respondents, 40% which accounted for (20 persons) receive help from family
members which included clothes, books, money, and other essentials. 20% which accounted for
(10 persons) say they receive help from hustling. These acts include: selling goods and or
services. 30% (15 persons) of the respondents beg to provide for their child needs. 10% or (5
persons) received help from the government. None of the respondents selected that stealing was
a means of providing for their child/children needs. Due to these results, it can be concluded that
most persons in the area are supported by family members.
In figure 1 it can be observed that there is a greater number of unemployed persons living in the
community of George Mason Drive, and lesser are employed. 62% (31 persons) accounted for
unemployed persons whilst, 38% or (19 persons) accounted for employed persons.

FINDINGS

During my research I have acquired a compilation of information with which regards to

unemployment in George Mason Drive. These are as follows:
58% or (29) of the respondents from the questionnaire are males.
Most unemployed persons maintain their child/children needs, primarily with the aid of
family members.
40% of persons who have responded are from the ages 19-25. This means that the mean
age of unemployed persons are from these age groups.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The importance of persons being employed plays a major part in our society today; it simply
means that less persons would be unemployed, hence resulting in a significant drop in the
unemployment rate within the community and the country at large. Community members should
see to it that both parents and children are educated, so as to have a better chance of being
employed in the future.
Unemployment is one of the leading causes of crime and violence, this is because peoples time
is not being occupied by some sort of activity (job), and therefore I recommend more jobs for
persons who are illiterate, skilled and unskilled and those who havent completed school.
I strongly recommend the local government and the necessary authorities be notified
about the lack of jobs within our economy and also to inform the public about the causes and
effects of unemployment. This can be achieved by broadcasting the information via the media
which includes:
1. The television
2. Radio
3. Newspaper
Also the government can go about this by dispatching social workers to different communities,
advising them about unemployment.
In the process of making these recommendations the strategies that I would implement, to
undertake these problems are as follows:

The intervention of the local government and labor organizations to develop more job
schemes based on specialized skills and advising them on the state of unemployment
within our community, and asking them to provide more jobs for all groups of people.
Institute measures so that all children attend, at least primary school.
Invite guess speakers to attend a forum, to advise the community about the causes and
effects of unemployment.

APPENDIX

UNEMPLOYM
ENT RISE

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Grayson, M. C. (2010). Social Studies Essemtials New Edition. Kingston, Jamaica:
Carlong Publishers.
Umraw, R. R. (2001). Modules in Social Studies Third Edition. Trinidad: Caribbean
Educational Publishers.