NAME OF CANDIDATE: JaneaSmellie

SCHOOL: Clan Carthy High

YEAR: 2013-2014
CENTRE #:100187
CANDIDATE #:
TEACHER: Mrs.McCook-Allen

TOPIC: An examination on the influence of dancehall

music on adolescents behaviour.

TABLE OF CONTENT
CONTENT

PAGE

Acknowledgement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Reason for Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Statement of Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Method of Investigation

........................................

Instrument used to Collect Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5-8

Procedures used to Collect Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Presentation and Explanation of Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14

Analysis and Interpretation of Data . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-16
Statement of Findings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Recommendations and Implementations
Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This study would not have been possible without the assistance and cooperation of a number of
persons. Firstly I would like to thank God who has given me the strength and courage to carry
out this study. Secondly I would like to thank the students of Clan Carthy High for their support
and valuable time spent on answering the questionnaires given. Thirdly I would like to thank my
mother who has been a great support throughout this study. I also would like to acknowledge my
friend and one of my teachers, Ms. Segree who assisted me in the completion of this study.
Finally, special thanks go out to my teacher Mrs. McCook-Allen who guided me every step of
the way through this exercise.

REASON FOR RESEARCH

Clan Carthy High is a small school situated in the parish of Kingston. This institution is a
coeducational school that is located on 1 Deanery Road Kingston 3, where its motto states Hit
the stars at the highest point.
The researcher has been a student of Clan Carthy High for the past four years. During this time,
it has been observed that many students gravitate to dancehall music and frequently listen to it
while they are on the school compound. It has also been observed that although electronic
devices are forbidden, students are often seen with cellular phones, IPods, boom boxes, laptops,
and mp3 players listening to music especially dancehall music. The researcher also noticed that
students seldomly attends gospel concert hosted by the school but are enthused to be a part of the
events that would include the playing or singing of dancehall music. It has also been observed
that students travel in buses or other mode of transportation where dancehall music is being
played. The researcher has further observed the negative behaviours of students who listen to
dancehall music. Students have also been heard using expletive where ever they please, behave
in a bad-manner and also gravitate to the lyrics of dancehall music.
As a result of the above observations, the researcher has decided to conduct a survey to see the
ways in which dancehall music influences the behaviour of students of the school.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
To what extent does dancehall music contribute to the negative behaviour among students?

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.

To what extent do students listen to dancehall music?

What are the factors which contribute to students listening to dancehall music?
How does dancehall music contribute to the negative behaviour among students?
What steps can be taken to reduce the negative effects that dancehall music have on
students behaviour?

METHOD OF INVESTIGATION
In order to collect data from the survey, I have decided to use print questionnaires to carry out
the task.
The questionnaires have a number of advantages. These are:

It is relatively quick to collect information.

Responses are gathered in a standardized way.
Results can be quickly and easily quantified by the researcher.
Less time consuming than face to face interview.

INSTRUMENT USED TO COLLECT DATA

Dear Students,
This is a survey being carried out in the school to determine how dancehall music influences the
behaviour of students. This study is being conducted as an assignment for my Social Studies
SBA which I am now pursuing.
I am kindly asking for your time to answer the following questions truthfully. You do not have to
write your name, so no one will know who answered the questions. Please remember this is not a
test so there is no right or wrong answer. Take time to answer the questions and place a tick
the bracket beside the answer of your choice.
Thank you for your participation.
Yours sincerely,

J.Smellie
Janea Smellie

STUDENTS QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Sex:
Male [ ]
Female [ ]
2. To what age group do you belong?
11-12 [ ]
13-14 [ ]
15-16 [ ]
17-18 [ ]
3. How long have you been a student of Clan Carthy High?
4 years [ ]
3 years [ ]
2 years [ ]
1 years [ ]

4. To what religion do you belong?

Christianity [ ]

in

Judaism [ ]
Hinduism [ ]
None [ ]
5. Which genre of music do you often listen to?
Dancehall [ ]
R&B [ ]
Gospel [ ]
Reggae [ ]
6. How frequently do you listen to dancehall music?
Often [ ]
Sometime [ ]
Rarely [ ]
Never [ ]
7. What is your reason for listening to dancehall music?
I enjoy listening to it [ ]
Because the music speaks about reality [ ]
Because its a popular thing to do [ ]
Because the artist is your idol [ ]
8. What is the reason for gravitating to dancehall artists?
Because I idolize them [ ]
Because their music has vybz [ ]
Because they sing about reality [ ]
Because their music motivates me [ ]
Other__________________________________________________________________
PLEASE STATE
9. Which gender is more likely to respond psychologically to the lyrical contents of
dancehall genre?
Males [ ]
Females [ ]
Both genders [ ]

10. What content is promoted in dancehall music?

Sexual [ ]
Criminal [ ]
Abuse [ ]
Alcohol Abuse [ ]
Encouraging [ ]

All of the Above [ ]

11. Dancehall music fosters negative behaviour among students who listen to its content?
Strongly agree [ ]
Agree [ ]
Disagree [ ]
Strongly disagree [ ]
12. In what way has dancehall music influence the behaviour of adolescents?
Positively [ ]
Negatively [ ]
Both positively and negatively [ ]
None at all [ ]
13. What behaviour/attitudes have you adopted as a result of listening to dancehall music?
Gender discrimination [ ]
Fashion [ ]
Bleaching [ ]
Support immoral/illegal activities [ ]
Speech and expression [ ]
14. What are some of the behaviours that are promoted by students who listen to dancehall
music?
They turn away from church [ ]
They engage in delinquent activities [ ]
Lack of natural love/emotion [ ]
They tend to be disrespectful to adults [ ]
It helps to develop talent and creativity [ ]
15. In what way has dancehall music changed over the years?
In a negative way [ ]
In a way that invades the privacy of others [ ]
In a way that encourages violence [ ]
Hasnt changed [ ]
16. What is the role of parents in the type of music adolescents listen to?
To censor what their children see or hear [ ]
To ensure their children dont take transportation where dancehall music is played [ ]
To protect their children from the negative lyrical content of dancehall music [ ]
Other__________________________________________________________________
PLEASE STATE
17. Who should be blamed for the negative influence dancehall music has on adolescents
behavior?
Adolescents [ ]
Parents [ ]
Artists [ ]

Media [ ]
Government [ ]
18. What measures must be put in place to deal with loud and inappropriate music on public
buses and taxis?
It should be forbidden [ ]
Drivers should be fined [ ]
Buses or taxis should be seized [ ]
19. What measure could be taken by the government or NGOs to decrease the negative
content in dancehall music?
They can cut certain sponsorship to produce positive music [ ]
They can restrict certain place that the music is aired or perform [ ]
They can enforce penalty on persons who produce music with negative content [ ]
The government can join with the broadcasting cooperation to penalize artist who sing
lewd music by banning them from air play and public play [ ]

PROCEDURE USED TO COLLECT DATA

Clan Carthy has approximately 1200 students. It was calculated that a sample of 3% was
necessary in order to ensure accurate conclusions on the negative influence of dancehall music
on students behaviour. (3% of 1200=36). A total of 40 questionnaires were prepared for
distribution to the students. It was expected that at least 36 of these will be returned.
There are five grade levels, 7 11. Eight (8) students will be selected from each grade level. This
selection was made because it is easier to gather information. Five (5) boys and three (3) girls
were selected from each grade because it is observed that boys gravitate to dancehall music more
than girls. Questionnaires were distributed to students who are frequent listeners of dancehall
music as well as students who are friends of associates of students who religiously listen to
dancehall music. The researcher therefore decided to choose the students by a process of random
selection which will cater to all the requirements mentioned above.

The questionnaires were distributed during the time when students will have form period during
the week of January 13 18, 2014. Based on the requirement for selection, the forty (40)
students were identified and provided with questionnaires to complete. In the case where the
researcher was not present to collect completed questionnaires, students were asked to leave it
with their form teacher, from whom the researcher will collect. If this was not done, students
were asked to return completed questionnaire to Janea Smellie in room 33. Where questionnaires
were not returned, the researcher went to the students classroom to personally collect them.
The data was then tallied, analyzed and conclusions drawn.

PRESENTATION AND EXPLANATION OF DATA

A total of 40 questionnaires were distributed to the students, out of which 39 were returned. Of
these respondents, 38% were female and 62% were male.

A Bar Chart Showing How Frequent Students Listen To Dancehall Music.

59%

26%

13%

3%

Figure 1: How frequently do students listen to dancehall music?

Table showing students reason for listening to dancehall music

Reasons

Percentage

I enjoy listening to it

61%

Because the music speaks about reality

32%

Because it's a popular thing to do

7%

Because the artist is your idol

0%

Table 1: What is your reason for listening to dancehall music?

A Pie-Chart Showing Contents Which Are Mostly Promoted In Dancehall Music.

Encouraging Content; 13%

Alcohol Abuse; 5%
Abuse; 3%

Criminal; 15%
Sexual; 64%

Figure 2: What content is promoted in dancehall music?

A Bar Chart showing ways dancehall music has influenced adolescent's behaviour
61%

21%

4%

8%

Figure 3: In what way has dancehall music influenced adolescents behavior?

A Table Showing Some Of The Behaviours Promoted By

Students Who Listen To Dancehall Music
Behaviours

Percentage

They turn away from church

10%

They engage in delinquent activities

33%

Lack of love and emotion

13%

They tend to be disrespectful to adults

26%

It helps to develop talent and creativity

18%

Table 2: What are some of the behaviours that are promoted by students who listen to

dancehall music?

A Doughnut Chart Showing Measures That Must Be Put In Place To Deal With Loud And Inappropriate Music On Public Buses and Taxis.

Buses or taxis should be seized; 23%

It should be forbidden; 46%

Drivers should be fined; 31%

Figure 4: What measures must be put in place to deal with loud and inappropriate music on
public buses and taxis?

A Pie-Chart Showing Measures That Could Be Taken By The Government or NGO To Decrease The Negative Content In Dancehall Music.

The government can join with the broadcastingcooperation to penalize artist who sing lewd music by banning them from air play and public play; 33%
They can cut certain sponsorship to produce positive music; 21%
They can restrict certain places that the music is aired or perform; 36%
They can enforce penalty on persons who produce music with negative content; 10%

Figure 5: What measure could be taken be the government or NGO to decrease the negative
content in dancehall music?

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

Dancehall is a style of Jamaican popular music that had its genesis in the political disturbance
of the late 1970s and became Jamaicas dominant music in the 1980s and 90s, (C.J. Cooper).
In todays society, music is an integral part of teenagers daily lives. It has been observed that
now, more than ever, dancehall music is becoming the most preferred genre of music amongst
individuals throughout the adolescent stage of life. Figure 1 shows that 59% of the respondents
indicated that they listen to dancehall music often while 26% stated that they listen to it
sometimes. Dancehall, like most types of music, is seen as an art form that artistes use to express
and relate different events and issues in their lives. It is a famous air play with lyrics that are very
catchy and many teenagers love to be current when it comes to the jargon of the dancehall and
may be intrigued by the expressiveness of the artiste. This may the reason why only 3% of the
respondents indicating that they did not listen to dancehall music.
Whether a person is a fan of dancehall music or not they will still come in contact with it. It is
heard while travelling in buses or taxes, while walking down the street and just about anywhere.
Many persons listen to it and their reasons may vary significantly. In table 1, 61% of the
respondents said that theyre reason for listening to dancehall music is because they enjoy it.
The music we listen to reflect our innermost feelings and our relationship with society, and if
society does not offer opportunities for jobs and a meaningful life, then music wont offer
narratives that reflect hope and opportunity for loving relationships and moral behaviours in
society. Dancehall music portrays the kind of lifestyle that young people would like to live with
the partying, flashiness, jewellery, cars, girls and clothes. This was supported by 32% of the
respondents who highlighted that the content of the music speaks about reality and this type of
lifestyle is the reality of many teenagers. One respondent however did not respond to their reason
for listening to dancehall music which may indicate that they were not a fan of that genre of
music or they just were against or didnt listen to it.
Although dancehall music is an important aspect of the society it also brings about both positive
and negative effects as depicted in figure 3. 61% of the respondents said that dancehall music
influences adolescents behavior both positively and negatively. The researcher is of the opinion
that it has helped many adolescent to become creative and express themselves while on the other
hand encouraging others to engage in delinquent activities as was stated by 18% and 13% of the
respondents respectively. The researcher also believes that dancehall music attracts tourists
which contribute to foreign exchange earnings that help to build the countrys economy and this

constitutes a positive effect. Only 8% of the respondent said that the behaviour of adolescents
was not a result of them listening to dancehall music. These individual are either oblivious to the
facts, in denial or too afraid to highlight the correlation between adolescent behaviour and
dancehall music.
Despite the positive effects Dancehall music might have on our young people, it has become
more a pathway for moral degradation with our young people. From the researchers
interpretation based on the responses made by respondents throughout this study, dancehall
music contributes to approximately 60% to the negative behaviour among students. The negative
effects that dancehall music has are based on content such as sexual, criminal, abuse and alcohol
abuse which are depicted and further pollutes the mind adolescents. Dancehall music has become
a symbol of explicit sexual imagery and criminal act as is stated by 64% and 15% of the
respondents respectively in figure 2. Adolescents in todays society often gravitate to hardcore
music that sells sex and promote violence and other negative behaviours hence they adopt the
aggression in dancehall portrayals and model the behaviours on a daily basis. Consequently, the
presence of dancehall culture has infiltrated the minds of many adolescents with only 13% of
respondents stating that the content portrayed is encouraging. One cannot therefore reject the
fact that dancehall music indeed has negative effects on students since it helps promotes their sex
drive and violent behaviors based on the lyrical contents of the songs they listen to. Table 2
indicates the behaviours promoted by students who listen to dancehall music. 33% of the
respondents said students engage in delinquent activities. The researcher is therefore of the
opinion that the action of students who listen to dancehall music is influenced by the negative
lyrics that are present in dancehall music. Although not presented, it can be noted that this
influence ranges across gender as 54% of the respondents indicated that both male and female
respond psychologically to the lyrical contents of dancehall music.
The Government is said to be blamed according to 10% of the respondents for the negative
influence dancehall music has on adolescents behavior as they have the responsibility of
protecting the country, even from itself. From the survey, it was highlighted that 49% of the
respondents blame the artists for the negative influence dancehall music has on adolescents
behaviour because they are the one singing lewd music and no matter what laws are put in place
by the Government they may still choose go against it because of the fame and fortune that may
be generated without thinking of the impact it has on young impressionable minds.
If certain measures are taken by the government to decrease the negative content of dancehall
music the level of crime and violence as well as the widespread indulgence in sexual immorality
will more likely to be decreased. Figure 5 shows that 36% of the respondents said that the
government can restrict certain places that the music is aired or performed. This would cause the
individual to think twice before playing lewd music in public place. Parents should devise a plan
and approach the media houses, the music industry to resolve the impact of violent lyrics on our
children. The media should not give airplay to artistes that glorify the guns in this fashion. If they

believe that their music will not be played on air because of the content, then they would have no
choice but to clean up the lyrics. 33% of the respondents agreed that the government can join
with the broadcasting cooperation to penalize artist who sing lewd music by banning them from
air play and public play.
The researcher believes that dancehall plays and integral role in the lives of individuals because
they are highly influenced by the dancehall industry. It can therefore be concluded that there is a
relationship between hardcore dancehall genre and the negative behaviours portrayed by students
at Clan Carthy High School who listen to its lyrical content.

STATEMENT OF FINDING
From the survey carried out the researcher found out that:
It is a popular trend for teenagers to listen to dancehall music. 59% of the respondents
indicated that they often spend there time listening to dancehall music.
Dancehall music has both positive and negative influence on adolescents is as was
stipulated by 61% of the respondents.
46% of the respondents agreed that public buses and taxis with loud and inappropriate
music should be forbidden to lessen the negative content in dancehall music which is now
polluting the mind of adolescents.
To reduce the negative content exhibited by dancehall music, 36% of the respondents
indicated that the Government or NGO could restrict certain places that dancehall music
is aired or played.

RECOMMENDATION AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

The influence of dancehall music on adolescents cannot be overstated. Despite the positive
effects of some lyrical content portrayed by this genre of music, this is often smeared by the
negative effects that are attributed. To reduce the negative impact of such lyrical content, the
following recommendations are very vital.

Firstly, the researcher recommends that that the government through the appropriate
agencies, should make it a responsibility to educate public bus and taxi operators on the
psycho-social, legal and health implications (abuse, pregnancy, STI/HIV) of playing loud
inappropriate music while transporting passengers, especially adolescents. At the same time
it is imperative that there be political support for this cause. Policies should be enforced (if
already implemented) regarding the matter of public bus and taxi operators facilitating sexual
activities by adolescents while on their public transportations. Sanction should be applied
where there is breach of such policy. In addition, close attention should be paid to the
legislation (Child Care and Protection Act, 2004), which protects the interest and rights of the
child and to facilitate this, loud and inappropriate music on public buses and taxis should be
forbidden, especially while located in public domain, whether or not such transportations
contain passengers.

Secondly, the media and dancehall artistes need to find common ground in how to relate
more responsible material. This can be done by formulating a lyrical content law. Public

education around laws and policies that protect youth exposure to harmful acts or material
such as Article 34 of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child and The Child Care and
Protection act. In addition, a guideline should be provided to all stakeholders outlining
established criteria for the type of material and musical content that should be aired.
The following strategies can also be implemented

The government could establish an education campaign for taxi and bus workers to
educate them on the importance of not playing loud and inappropriate music in public
spaces.

The government could enforce the laws on the operators of buses or taxis in relation to
the playing of music and strict penalties for those who breach these laws.

The (C.C.P.A) Child Care and Protection Act could educate parents on how to sensor the
music that their child/children listen to.

The media can air advertisements that would educate on the effect of negative lyrical
content and at the same time discouraging the playing of these type of contents

In collaboration with the police, an avenue can be created where individuals who breach
the lyrical content law can be reported.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cooper, C.J. Dancehall music.Encyclopedia Britannica.ed.com.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/150832/dancehall- music

Ramsawak, Rampersad and Ralph R. Umraw. 2005. Modules in Social Studies with SBA
Guide and CXC Questions 4th Edition. Trinidad: Caribbean Educational Publisher.

www.libweb.surrey.ac.uk.com
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
www.icbl.hw.ac.uk