AIMS AND OBJECTIVES At the end of the research, the researcher aims to develop a greater understanding of the deviance in Ewarton high school of Ewarton. To achieve achieve the aim stated above, the researcher has the following objectives:
To analyse analyse assumptions of the sociology perspectives on deviance. To examine examine the factors why deviant acts are committed. To find find out the causes and effects of deviant acts in Ewarton high school. To find find out the reasons why students of Ewarton high have been carrying out deviant acts. To discover discover the measures that can be put in place to alleviate this problem and counsel students who have been committing deviant acts.
Statement of problem 1
Deviant acts have been taing place in many schools in the country of !amaica. "ell "e ll the Ewarton high school is no exception. This school have been affected by deviant behaviours over the past years. #$owlby %&'(, %&)*+ believed, deviance was inherited rather he explained it in terms of a child-s early socialiation. socialiation. Deviants- behaviour is different from normal behaviours, therefore deviants are different from normal people. Deviant behaviours is a social problem this is so because it harms individuals individuals and can have a disruptive disruptive are a social problem. #/aralambos 0 /olborn+, Durheim #%&1*+ believed that deviance is a necessary part of a successful society. society. This specified topic #deviance+ at Ewarton high school of Ewarton situated in the parish of 2t. 3atherine will will be investigated and evaluated to examine examine to the reasons causes and effects of deviance and why deviant acts are carried out. Also discovering ways to alleviate this problem in this context.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This 2chool $ased Assessment couldn-t be a success without the help of the Almighty 4od. /e gave me the nowledge and strength to complete this sociology assessment. Thans also to my 2ociology teacher, 5rs 2cott6!acson who was 2
there every step of the way and mae sure 7 did the right thing for completing this project. Also with the help of the internet and the boos that 7 read and the big of my literature review.
Intro!"t#on 7n everyday language to deviate means to stray from an accepted path, and many sociological definitions of deviance simply elaborate upon this idea. 7n other words deviance consists of those acts which do not follow the nor ms and expectations of a particular social group. Deviance can either be positively sanctioned #rewarded+, $
negatively sanctioned #punished+ or simply accepted without reward or punishment. The term 8deviance- should be reserved for behaviour which is so much disapproved of that students of Ewarton high who are not deviant finds it impossible to tolerate #3linard, %&9'+. Deviant behaviour is different from normal behaviour, therefore to be a deviant is to be different from normal people. 2ociety itself generates deviance for its own well6being #Durheim, 3ohen+. 3ertain forms of deviance are natural and normal response to particular circumstances #3ohen %&&(+. Deviant acts are a useful warning device to indicate that an aspect of society is malfunctioning. 5any studies have been carried out to discover why deviant acts have been happening and why this problem as taen students in the society. 2ociologists have also seen an interest on this topic, since it is focusing on how human behaves. The current investigation focuses on DE7A;3E at Ewarton high school, situated in the parish of 2t. 3atherine in the country of !amaica, with the school having a population of #%*<<+ students. A survey will be conducted to investigate the causes and effects that led to deviance, in the school. The researcher hopes to get to the bottom of this problem once and for all.
L#terat!re re%#e& ;umerous studies have been conducted to investigate the term nown as deviance. 5any schools in !amaica have been affected by deviants while Ewarton high school of ewarton is no exception.
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Merton (1968) argued that deviance results from pathological personalities but from the culture and structure of society itself. 5any people who have turn to deviant behaviour have been struggling from challenges at home or at wor and they tae out this problem out in the act of committing deviant behaviours.
Traunts from schools, deserters from the army, or runaways from young6offender institutions, may reveal unsuspected causes of discontent, and lead to changeo that enhance efficiency and morale (Cohen 1996). Deviance is relative there is no absolute way of defining a deviant act. Durkheim imagined a 8society of saints- populated by perfect individuals. 7n such a society there might be no murder or robbery, but there would still be deviance. Deviants- acts affects a society and the norms of that society as a whole. The source of deviance in the nature of society rather than in the biological or psychological nature of the individual. After all deviance breas social norms and values, if someone is deviant, they are a threat to order and therefore be seen as a threat to society. *Merton (1968) stated that the social and cultural structure generates pressure for socially deviant behaviour upon people variously located in that structure. 5erton stressed that membership of the lower strata is not, in itself, sufficient to produce deviance. Deviance can be described as a subculture, in the society. 5erton claimed that his analysis showed how the culture and structure of society generate deviance. 2ocial norms are codes of conduct that are considered 8normal- by a particular culture. 7t is also socially constructed, culturally relative that is different cultures have different ideas about norms. Becker (1963) argued that social groups create deviance by maing the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance, and by applying those rules to particular people and labelling them as outsiders. $ecer= also saw deviant as passing through a series of stages in his or her deviant career. /e also suggest that in one sense there is no such thing as a deviant act. An act only becomes deviant when others perceive and define it as such. Lermerts claimed that it was not necessary to explain primary deviance, since it is very common and it has no impact on a person-s self6concept. >urthermore, it is clear that many deviants realise they are breaing the norms of society, whether or not they are caught labelled. As Taylor et al (193) argue that while marijuana smoers might regard their smoing as acceptable normal behaviour in the company they move in, they are fully aware that this behaviour is regarded as deviant in the wider society.
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!arl Ma" does not believe that deviance is a woring6class phenomenon. Deviance occurs at every level in society but wor6class groups ar e most often cited as the main perpetrators.
The present investigation on the issue of deviance in the community of ?instead is very important and is a very critical issue. At the end of this research that will be conducted and effects of deviance in the community and why deviance in the taen a place in the society.
Data "olle"t#on )o!r"e) #esearch Desi$n
The investigation in @uestion will be carried out at Ewarton high school, 2t. 3atherine !amaica. 7n order for the researcher to collect data that will be needed, the researcher will tae in consideration the use of two types of research methods @ualitative and @uantitative research methods. The use of the @uestionnaire will be the main data collection tool, the researcher will also depend on secondary data *
sources to carry out the investigation in @uestion. The @uestionnaire is cost effective and can be done at the persons- leisure and the respondent will be anonymous. The researcher will issue #<+ @uestionnaires to student at Ewarton high school who are not affected by violence and also to police officers to get their side of this issue of deviance at Ewarton high school in the area and how it has affected the non B violent student . 2tudents from Ewarton high ranging fro m ages %( and over will be able to tae part in this survey. The sample will be advised or argued to return the @uestionnaires two wees later after being issued. The researcher hopes to collect all < @uestionnaires at the stated time.
%am&le %election
The aim of this research on DE7A;3E at ewarton high school is to investigate the causes and effects of the stated issue. 7n this research, the researcher had to create a sample selection, which would be necessary in this case. Cuestionnaires will be distributed to students ages %( and over, which have been affected by deviant acts carried out by deviant students. olice officers will also tae part in this research. E@ual number of males and females will also be selected. The sample will therefore consist of respondents who have been affected by different acts in the school. The researcher hopes to have all the < @uestionnaires returned.
Data Collection Tool
7n order to collect data from this survey, the researcher will use printed @uestionnaires. The reason for using the @uestionnaire as the data collection tool is because it can be done at the persons- leisure and it can be completed in a short space of time. The researcher also has taen into consideration the students when carrying out this research.
The copy of the @uestionnaire to be distributed is enclosed below:
3F > CGE2T7;;A7HE +
DE7A;3E AT E"AHT; /74/ 23/?: A 2urvey
Dear students, 5y name is !oel Davis a member of the ( th form program at the Ewarton /igh 2chool. ne of subject 7 do is 2ociology in 3AE, and 3I3 re@uire 7 do a 2chool $ased Assessment for this particular subject. iolent acts have been occurring at ewarton high school of ewarton over the past years. The @uestionnaire aims to investigate the causes and effects that have led to violent actsJ in the school. The gathering of this information will play an important role in the completion of this research. lease complete this @uestionnaire and answer each @uestion objectively and honestly. Four names are not re@uired. The @uestionnaire should be returned in two wees- time. l
Thans for your valid time and cooperation.
Fours sincerely, KKKKKKKKKKKKK !oel Davis
,!e)t#onna#re
lace a Tic in box to respond to a @uestion. >or Cuestions that need a reasoning, answer objectively and honestly.
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%. "hat gender are youL 5ale
>emale
. "hat age are youL %(6 < years 96 * years
%6 ( years ** and over
*. "hat do you thing about deviant studentsL KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK '. /ow long have you been a student at Ewarton highL Gnder ( months
xd
over % year6 *yrs
over (months 6%year over * years6 (years
( years and over
(. Are criminal- acts been carried out at Ewarton high schoolL Fes ;o (. 7n what ways are violent acts being carried outL 7n the form of drug offences 2exual offences >raud and forgery Hobbery 0 $urggerly ffences against vehicles ther offences 9. /ave you been affected by criminal acts that are being carried out at your schoolL Fes ;o 1. Among what age group are criminal acts being committedL /
%*6 %) years
%96 %1 years
%)6 %9 years
%1 and over
&. "hat are the causes of students committing criminal actsL 3hild abuse eer ressure Depression 7f others specify KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK %<."hat are some of the effects resulting from deviant behaviours in the ewarton high schoolL Gnwanted and teenage pregnancy $roen homes 4ang iolence 3hild abuse 7f other, specify KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK %%.7n what ways can police officers assists in stemming the tide of delin@uent behaviours at ewarton high school $y establishing a olice Fouth 3lub ffering concealing sessions 2etting a good example so that deviants can learn from them 7f other, specify KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK %. "hat do you thin can be done to alleviate this issue of violence in Ewarton high schoolL /olding concealing sessions with residents especially the youths Establishing a olice Fouth 3lub and having educational sessions with youths of the community Teaching people about having stable family homes
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Hesidents of the community becoming more caring for one another and helping each other
re)entat#on of ata
Title: ie chart showing the percentage of students influence by violence to the ones not influenced.
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Chart Title 3e)
No
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>igure %. The pie chart above illustrates that of *< percent of the student at ewarton high out of %<< percent are influence by violence and of 9< percent of the students at ewarton high out of %<< percent are not influenced by violence.
Title: Table showing the ways in which violent acts are carried out at ewarton high school.
T7;2 Drug ffences 2exual ffences >raud and >orgery Hobbery and $urglary 2moing
;G5$EH > HE2;DE;T2 ' % ( 12
ther
%
Table %. The table above shows ' respondents who believed that deviant acts are carried out in the form of drug offences. "hile on the other hand respondents believed that sexual offences were committed more in the community. % respondents thin that it was fraud and forgery. respondents believed it was robbery and burglary. >our #'+ respondents believed that deviant acts are carried out in the form of offences against vehicles. 2ix #(+ respondents believed it was in the f orm of smoing, while on the other hand only % respondent believed it was other offences.
Title: ie chart showing the causes of student at ewarton high school committing violent acts, in the community of ewarton.
1$
Chart Title
2( "4#l ab!)e
eer pre))!re
Depre))#on
5n)table fam#l3 )#t!at#on
(0 1(
10
>igure . The pie chart above illustrates the causes of ewarton high students committing deviants acts in the community of ewarton. Twenty percent #)M+ of the respondents believed that child abuse cause students to commit deviants acts. eer pressure which was one of the causes was represented by #%)M+ of the respondents. Ten percent #%
Title: $ar graph showing effects resulting from the deviant behaviour at ewarton high schoolL
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Chart Title e9pelle from )"4ool
+
Bro8en 4ome)
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Gan7 V#olen"e
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5n&ante 6 Teena7e pre7nan"3
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1
2
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>igure *. The bar graph above shows three #*+ respondents believed that an effect resulting from deviant behaviour was unwanted and teenage pregnancy. >our #'+ respondents believed it was gang violence. 2ix #(+ respondents thought that an effect of this results in broen homes. 5ajority of the respondents which was represented by# 9+ believed that deviant behaviour results in expelled from school.
Anal3)#) of ata
Deviance in the school of Ewarton high is a very serious issue when ased if there was deviance. 2eventy percent #9
involved in violent activity at ewarton high school. n the other hand only #*our #'+ respondents believed the deviant acts where carried out in the form of offences against vehicles. A great majority of the respondents which was ( shared the concern that the way in which deviant acts are carried out at ewarton high school was in the form of smoing. "hile on the other hand only % respondent believe that it was other offences. These results were depicted in table %. Deviant behaviours at ewarton high school brought along with it cause and effects. >igure showed that #)M+ of the respondents believed that the cause of these deviant acts performed by ewarton high students was because of child abuse. "hen children are abuse fre@uently they thought of them self as nothing so they tae part in deviant acts. nly #%)M+ of the respondents believed that the cause of deviant among ewarton high student was peer pressure. Ten percent #%
1*
:#n#n7)
1+
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•
•
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Deviants act are carry out mostly in the way of smoing at ewarton high school of ewarton #see table %+. Hesearcher also found out that the major cause of students of ewarton high committing deviant acts in the community is because of unstable family situation that is present in the homes of deviant #see figure + Hesidents in the community of ewarton also believe major effect resulting from deviant behaviour at ewarton high school was drug addiction #see figure *+ 2tudents believe that the way in which deviant activities at ewarton high school can be alleviated was to provide counselling sessions for deviant students #@uest %+.
D#)"!))#on of ;n#n7)
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The research which was carried out at ewarton high school in ewarton on the topic of deviant activities affecting ewarton high students and it revealed many things. The researcher also got a greater understanding of the causes and effects of deviance. Deviance acts are use of warning to indicate that an aspect of society is malfunction. 5ajority of the respondents believed that deviants were representing in ewarton high school, and that this deviant behaviour was brought forward in the way of smoing. 5any of these students believe that the cause of this was because there was evident that person committed deviants acts are having unstable family situation and they tae out this stressed by behaving lie deviant. According to ?emerts it is necessary to explain primary deviance since it is very common and it has no impact on a person self6concepts. Taylor et al #%&9*+ argue that while marijuana smoers might regarded their smoing as acceptable normal behaviour in the company they move in, they are fully aware that this behaviour is regard as deviant in the wider society. 5ajority of the student believed that the major effect resulting from deviant behaviour is drug addiction. 5any deviants are all trying to find out a way out of their problems and they tae this out on the society by committing deviants behaviour. 5ajority of the students believed the way to deviate this problem of deviant in their school is to provide counselling for deviant students since they thought that the youth are the one who are portrait deviant behaviour.
Con"l!)#on
1/
>rom the investigation the researcher found out his aim stated. deviant was present among Ewarton high some Ewarton high students and senior students are mostly the one involved. 3auses and effects were brought out at the end of research and solution were also stated to alleviate this growing problem. 2tudents who committed deviant behaviours usually act this way because their having problem at home and don-t nown how to deal with it. According to 5erton #%&(1+, he believed many people who have turn to deviant behaviour has been struggling from challenge at home or at wor and they tae this problem out in the act of committing deviants behaviour this was evidence in the research when carried out. To conclude this research the researcher also found out that smoing is one way in which deviants portray deviant behaviour. 7 believed that students of ewarton high should become more caring for each other and helping each other in any way possible and help deviant to deviate fr om this behaviour, then ewarton high school of ewarton would be deviant free.
B#bl#o7rap43
Books 20
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$ecer, /. #%&(*+. utsiders 2tudies in the 2ociology of Deviance. ;ew
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For: >ree ress. Durheim, E. %&&9 #%1&*+. The Division of ?abour in 2ociety. ;ew For
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;F: >ree ress. /aralambos, 5, /olborn, 5, 3hapman, 2 0 5oore, 2. #%&9*+. /aralambos 0 /olborn 2ociology Themes and erspectives #1th ed.+ #<<%+ 3ollins
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ublisher. /aralambos, 5, /olborn, 5 0 Hobin, /. #<<<+. /aralambos 0 /olborn
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2ociology Themes and erspectives #)th ed.+. #<<<+ 3ollins ublisher 5ustapha, ;. #<<&+. 2ociology for 3aribbean 2tudents. 7an Handle ublisher
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