Social studies
School Based Assessment
Name of Candidates: Candidate Number:
Shavan Gordon 1002990715
Tasanya Barrett 1002990081
Odaine Smith 1002992165
Name of School: Jose Marti Technical High School
Center Number: 100053
Territory: Jamaica
1
TABLE OF CONTENT
Statement of the Problem 1
Research Question 1
Reason For Selecting the Area of Research 1
Method of Investigation 2
Data Collection Instrument 3-6
Procedure for Data Collection 7
Presentation of Data 8-10
Analysis and Interpretation of Data 11
Statement of Findings 12
Recommendation and Implementation Strategy 13
Bibliography 14
2
Statement of the Problem
What factors contribute to the mass numbers of cases from covid-19 in the
community of River-ton Meadows Kingston 11.
Research Question
1. What are the causes of covid-19 in my community River-ton Meadow Kingston.
2. How are resident affected by covid-19.
3. What measure can be implemented to reduce the impact of covid-19.
3
Reason For Selecting the Area of Research
The community of Riverton Meadows, Kingston 11, has experienced a significant rise
in COVID-19 cases, affecting the health and well-being of its residents. Investigating
the contributing factors to the outbreak and its impact on the community is essential to
understanding how to better manage and mitigate the effects of the pandemic. By
focusing on this area, the research aims to identify specific challenges and
recommend actionable measures to improve the community’s response to future
health crises.
4
Method of Investigation
The researcher have chosen to use printed questionnaire according to website
dictionary.com a questionnaire is a set of question for obtaining statistically useful or
personal information from individuals .
These are several advantages of an questionnaire these include :
Large scale data collection- Questionnaire can be easily distributed to a large
group of group of people for a large sample size which positively affects the
accuracy of the data.
Standardized responses- Questions are structured for respondent participants
survey to allow ease in answering the questions.
Anonymity and confidentiality- Questionnaire allow the information of the
participants to be kept confidential therefore no third party will have access to the
information from the survey.
5
Data Collection Instrument
Questionnaire
Letter to the respondents
Dear respondents,
We are fifth form students that attend Jose Marti Technical High
School, who are perusing a course in social studies. In partial fulfillment of our
School Based Assignment (S.B.A) we will be conducting an investigation in to the
factors that contribute to the mass number of cases from covid-19 in your community.
If you wish to assist in completing this investigation we ask that you fill out the
questionnaire provided. Your information will be completely confidential and will
only be used to assist us with our investigation.
There are no wrong answers, please select the answer that you think will match the
questions being asked. You can select the answer by placing a tick beside the correct
answer.
We would be grateful towards your assistance.
Thank you in advance.
Yours sincerely,
S. Gordon
6
1. What is your gender?
Male ( )
Female ( )
2. What is your family type?
Nuclear Family ( )
Extended Family ( )
Single parent Family ( )
Blended Family ( )
3. What is your ethnic group?
Africans ( )
Chinese ( )
Indians ( )
Mixed descent ( )
4. How long have you lived in community?
1-6 months ( )
1-3 years ( )
4-5 years ( )
7-9 years ( )
5. What are the cause of covid-19?
Close Contact ( )
Poor Ventilation ( )
Lack of Public Health Infrastructure ( )
Low Vaccination Rate ( )
6. Which of the following symptom did you experience?
Sore Throat ( )
Cough ( )
Fewer or Chills ( )
Headache ( )
7. What was your employment status?
Employed ( )
Unemployed ( )
Student ( )
Retired ( )
8. Where do you think you contracted covid-19?
7
At work ( )
At school ( )
At a social gathering ( )
While using public transportation ( )
9. What did you believe was the greatest challenge to controlling covid-19?
Lack of Education/awareness ( )
Overcrowding in public areas ( )
Non-compliance with Protocols ( )
Limited healthcare access ( )
10. How are resident affected by covid-19?
Health Impact ( )
Financial Impacts ( )
Educational Disruption ( )
Environmental Impacts ( )
11. Did any of your family member get covid-19?
Yes ( )
No ( )
12. How many people live in your household?
1-2 ( )
3-4 ( )
5-6 ( )
7-10 ( )
13. Were you fully vaccinated against covid-19?
Yes ( )
No ( )
14. What were some challenges you are your household face in following covid-19
safety measures?
Cost of masks or sanitizer ( )
Difficulty with social distancing ( )
Limited access to information on covid-19 ( )
15. Did you follow the health guide line of covid-19?
Yes ( )
No ( )
8
16. What measure can be implemented to reduce the spreed of covid-19 ?
Limit Large Gatherings ( )
Increase Public Awareness ( )
Improve Access to Testing and Vaccination ( )
Enhance Health Protocols and Compliance ( )
17. What actions can the government take to minimize the impact of COVID-19 in
the River-ton community?
Enforcing curfews and lockdowns ( )
Providing financial assistance to affected residents ( )
Distributing free masks and sanitizers ( )
Offering free internet access for online schooling ( )
Procedure for Data Collection
9
To obtain information for the investigation, the researchers have decided to use
random sampling. The community consists of 150 household, it was estimated that
only a section of the community for the completion of the research (20% of 150=30)-
17. The researcher chose the homes using random sampling, gate numbers were
placed in a box and shaken until 31 gate number fell from the box. In cases on one
where home the questionnaire was placed where it could be seen with our telephone
numbers.
10
Presentation of Data
Figure 1
what is your gender?
Male Female
38%
62%
Figure1. Chart showing the gender of the respondents.
11
Figure 2
What is your family types
Family type Percentage
Nuclear Family 18%
Extended Family 17%
Single parent Family 40%
Blended Family 25%
Figure3. Table showing the type of family of the respondents.
12
Figure 3
What is your ethnic group?
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Africans Chinese Indians Mixed descent
Figure3. Bar graph showing the ethnic group of the respondents.
13
Figure 4
What are the cause of covid-19?
11%
36%
30%
23%
Close Contact
Poor Ventilation
Lack of Public Health Infrastructure
Low Vaccination Rate
Figure4. Chart showing what are the cause of covid-19.
14
Figure 5
How are resident affected by covid-19?
33% 31% 31%
28% 26%
23%
18%
12%
13%
8%
3%
Health Impact Financial Im- Educational Environmental
pact Disruption impacts
Series1 31% 31% 26% 12%
Figure5. Bar graph showing how are the residents affected by covid-19.
15
Figure 6
What measure can be implemented to reduce the spreed of covid-19 ?
Measure to reduce the spreed of covid-19 Percentage
Limit Large Gatherings 39%
Increase Public Awareness 16%
Improve Access to Testing and Vaccination 14%
Enhance Health Protocols and Compliance 31%
Figure6. Table showing measure to reduce the spreed of covid-19.
16
Analysis and Interpretation of Data
Figure 1 shows the gender distribution of respondents, with 62% female and 38%
male. This indicates a higher proportion of female participants, suggesting a gender
imbalance in the data.
Figure 2 shows that single-parent families are the most common among the
respondents at 40%. Blended families account for 25%, nuclear families for 18%, and
extended families for 17%. This data suggests a significant presence of single-parent
households, with a balanced distribution among the other family types.
Figure 3 shows the largest group among the respondents is of mixed descent, making
up about 38%, followed by Indians at 30%. Africans represent around 20%, while no
respondents identified as Chinese. This indicates a diverse population, with mixed
descent and Indian ethnicities being the most prominent.
Figure 4 shows that close contact (36%) and lack of public health infrastructure (30%)
are the main causes of COVID-19 spread. Poor ventilation (23%) and low vaccination
rates (11%) also contribute but to a lesser extent. Close contact is the leading cause,
emphasizing the need for social distancing and protective measures. Lack of
infrastructure and poor ventilation also significantly contribute, indicating the need
for improved healthcare systems and better airflow in public spaces. While low
vaccination rates are the smallest factor, increasing vaccination coverage remains
important.
Figure 5 shows that residents were most affected by health impacts and financial
impacts (both 31%), followed by educational disruption (26%) and environmental
impacts (12%). The main challenges are maintaining well-being and economic
stability, with education and environmental effects being less prominent.
Figure 6 shows that respondents perceive limiting large gatherings (39%) and
enhancing health protocols (31%) as the most effective measures to curb COVID-19
spread. Public awareness campaigns (16%) and improving access to testing and
vaccination (14%) are viewed as less impactful. Vaccination (14%) may be viewed as
17
having less impactful because they might fear side effects, believe false information,
or don’t trust the healthcare system.
18
Statement of Findings
The main causes of COVID-19 in Riverton Meadows, Kingston according to the
research was close contact among residents representing (36%),
Residents believe that their health was the main issue which was affected by
COVID-19 (26%),
Measures to reduce the impact of COVID-19 include limiting large gatherings
(39%), followed by enhancing health protocols (31%).
19
Recommendation and Implementation Strategy
Enhance Public Health Infrastructure and Vaccination Campaigns
Improve access to health facilities, provide resources, and conduct community
vaccination drives to increase vaccination rates.
Boost Community Awareness on COVID-19 Protocols
Run public education campaigns on prevention strategies like mask-wearing, social
distancing, and ventilation through workshops and media.
20
Implementation
The researchers have decided to implement recommendation 2, which is to boost
community awareness. To do this we would do the following:
1. Create a team of persons who would work with the members of the group to
create a committee.
2. Identify the Member of Parliament for the idea who we would share our idea with
, to gain support.
3. Host workshops in schools, churches, and community centers to educate residents
on COVID-19 prevention practices, including mask-wearing, social distancing,
and proper ventilation.
4. Use culturally relevant methods such as skits, music, and storytelling to ensure
the message resonates with community members.
5. Partner with local businesses to distribute flyers, posters, and sanitization kits in
high-traffic areas like markets and bus stops.
6. Conduct surveys or community meetings to gather feedback on the campaign’s
effectiveness. Use this information to refine future efforts and ensure sustained
community engagement.
21
Bibliography
Ministry of Education, Jamaica. (2023). Educational Disruptions and Solutions
During the Pandemic.
Smith, J. (2022). The Effects of COVID-19 on Jamaican Students. Kingston:
Academic Press.
Survey Monkey. (2024). Student Responses to Pandemic Challenges.
22