Dimple Patel
Sergio Gomez
Sociology 10/Introduction to Sociology/Section 79145
Tuesday/Thursday- 6:30am -7:50am
I. INTRODUCTION
When one considers the subject of bullying, one usually produces up the idea of children being victimized by a evil bully on a schoolyard. Bullying is defined as, the act of intimidating a weaker person to make them do something, noisily domineering; tending to browbeat others. (Webster’s Dictionary online). On a typical school day today three out of ten American youngsters are involved in bullying as perpetrators, victims, or bystanders and an estimated 160,000 children skip school for fear of being harassed. Bullied students are more prone to suicide, depression, and poor school performance; bullies have a far higher likelihood of committing crimes as adults. (CQ Press, 2005)
II. SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH METHOD
To determine the truth of the hypothesis that bullying indeed exists in the school, the survey research method was utilized. As noted by Professor of Sociology and author Diana Kendall (2012), surveys are the most widely used research method in the social sciences, “it’s possible to study things that are not directly observable- such as people’s attitudes and beliefs- and to describe a population too large to observe directly” (P.31). There were 30 respondents who were selected and a comprehensive questionnaire was provided in order to gather relevant data regarding possible bullying in the school.
III. RESULTS AND FINDINGS FROM RESEARCH
The questionnaire consists of 10 questions with multiple choice answers covers simple demographics, including gender, age, various ways a person was bullied, and questions which attempt to bring to light possible occurrences of school bullying. The survey was requested by a voluntary of participants at my job that has been bullied as kids and my friends that have children that have been bullied. The anonymity and confidentiality of the respondents was maintained in a professional manner. The questions and results from the 30 participants are as follows:
1. What is your gender?
19% Male
81% Female
20% Boy
80% Girl
2. What is your age?
10% 3-9
50% 10-17
15% 18 – 20
10% 21 – 30
5% 31 – 40
5% 41– 50
5% 51– 60
3. Physically?
Examples: hit, pushed, shoved, slapped, kicked, spit at, or beaten up, had property stolen Not once
Once or twice
Every week
Many times
Don’t know
4. Verbally?
Examples: called names, teased hurtfully, insulted, humiliated, threatened Not once
Once or twice
Every week
Many times
Don’t know
5. Socially?
Examples: excluded from a group, made to look dumb by someone, gossiped about; rumors spread Not once
Once or twice
Every week
Many times
Don’t know
6. Electronically?
Examples: threatened, embarrassed, singled out, had your feelings hurt, been gossiped about, or had secrets about you revealed through e-mail or phone text messages or pictures Not once
Once or twice
Every week
Many times
Don’t know
7. Racially?
Examples: treated differently or badly because of your race, culture, ethnic Not once
Once or twice
Every week
Many times
Don’t know
8. How often have you stayed away from school in order to avoid being bullied? (Circle one answer) Not once
Once or twice
Every week
Many times
Don’t know
9. How often have you tried to help another student who was being bullied? (Circle one answer) Not once
Once or twice
Every week
Many times
Don’t know
10. Where and how often does bullying occur?
Classrooms Never Sometimes Often Always
Hallways Never Sometimes Often Always
School entrances/exits Never Sometimes Often Always Library