The document outlines the requirements and guidelines for a Social Studies School Based Assessment (SBA). Students must complete a guided research project on an approved social issue. It must include 9 tasks: stating the research problem as a question, providing a rationale, research methods, data collection instruments, procedures, data presentation in 3 forms, analysis and interpretation of findings, 3 findings, and 2 recommendations. Drafts are due in November and February, with the final copy between 1000-1200 words including graphs/charts. Projects will be marked out of 40 and make up 20% of the course grade. Strict guidelines around formatting, structure, and academic honesty are provided.

1. Social Studies School Based Assessment Outline
School Based Assessment. This is an evaluation conducted by the school while the social studies course is still in process.
Candidates are required to conduct a guided research and document their findings your teacher/ other appropriate
person will guide you throughout the process. You MUST do your own work; it should not be done for you. Punishment
will be administered to candidates in which it can be proven that they have plagiarized other persons work . The First
draft must be handed in to your teacher NO later than the third week in November, this will be corrected and returned.
FINAL drafts must be handed in by the FIRST week in February .
**WARNING** Do NOT hand in you drafts a few days before the deadline and pressure your teacher to mark an
return it immediately to suit your needs. You will not be accommodated except in extraordinary circumstances,
speak with your teacher if there is a problem. Be disciplined, MEET YOUR DEADLINES. If you hand in a research
that your teacher has never seen before, this may be to your disadvantage and you may not get the marks you
deserve.
Tasks
The S.B.A. is marked out of 40. This values 20% of the total marks The S.B.A. is marked out of 40. This values 20%
of the total marks. Your report must be between 1000 – 1200 works in length, this should include appropriate
graphs and charts . Each task is allotted a certain number of marks if you miss (omit) a task the marks cannot be
allotted
( the SBA is marked for what is present In the document)
There are nine (9) tasks:
Task 1 -
State a problem in the form of a question
(Statement of The Problem)
Task 2 -
Rationale
Task 3 -
Sate one method you will use to collect data (Method of Investigation)
Task 4 -
Design an appropriate instrument to collect the data (Instrument used to Collect Data)
Task 5 -
Describe the procedure you need to collect data (Procedures Used to Collect Data)
Task 6 -
Present and explain the data in three ways (Presentation of Data)
Task 7 -
Analyze and interpret the data in the form of the question asked in task 1 (Interpretation of
data)
Task 8 -
State three (3) findings (Findings)
Task 9 -
Give two (2) recommendations and suggestion based on your findings
(Recommendations and Suggestions)
Presentation

The Research must be collected in order of task, i.e. task 1, task 2 etc…

Do NOT Put fancy decorations all over the cover. Marks are not earned for extravagantly decorated
folders. Your presentation says much about you, be neat and clean.

The following MUST be clearly visible on the outside of your folder:
School Based Assessment
Subject:
School:
Candidate #:
Centre #:
Territory:
Teacher:
Year:
TITLE:

2. 
Title Page:
The title page comes immediately behind the cover page, it should have only
the title in bold type (Font size 14)

Acknowledgement:
This should be brief, acknowledge the contribution of the named persons who
contributed to the research NB Do not name buildings books etc…

Table of Contents:
This should be placed after the title page and organized according to tasks

The Research
The research must be typed in double spacing on one side of the paper (letter
sized white paper)Black/Blue ink should be used. Preferably black. All pages
must be the same size and type; do not use half sheets or a mixture of typing
paper and folder leaves.
Must be placed in a simple soft backed folder, stapled together with no loose
leaves falling out.

Typing:
The font should be Times New Romans size 12. A smaller font may be used in a
table. All print must be clear and easily read with no crossing out or anything
spilt on the page

Margins:
Left margins must be 1.5”; top, right and bottom margins must be 1” each.
The Research
Task 1 – STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Select a problem that affects the individual. The problem must be written in the form of a question drawn from
section A B or C of the syllabus. It may be based on social or economic processed, situations or problems in your
school or immediate community. Topic must be specific, i.e. target a specific group in a specific area.
Example: Topic – Social Problems caused by insane persons.
If you chose he above topic you need to now take this topic and construct a problem statement worded in such a
way that you can go find answers for the question. So for the statement of the problem it could be:
What are some of the social problems caused by insane persons in my community?
OR
How does the presence of insane persons on the street contribute to social problems in the lives of citizens in the
community of Stadium Gardens?
Research Questions/ Aims :
The research questions/aims are three broad questions which are supposed to guide you throughout the
research. In collecting your data use them as guides. These are the questions you will be trying to answer when
the research is competed these questions must be answered. The research questions should be placed below your
statement of the problem
Example:
Task 1
Statement of the Problem
How does the presence of insane persons on the street in the Stadium Gardens community contribute
to social problems for residents?
Research Questions
1. What are some of the social problems caused by insane persons?
2. How does the problem impact the lives of residents?
3. What can be done to correct this problem?

3. Task 2 – RATIONALE
In this section you must write a short paragraph explaining how you became aware of this problem and the reason
for doing the research you hope to reveal in the research (in about 5 – 6 sentences)
Task 3 – METHOD OF INVESTEGATION
State one method that you will use to collect the data for the research and justify/give two advantaged of the
method chosen. You can use questionnaires, interviews observation and other text/non-text material.
Task 4 – INSTRUMENT USED TO COLLECT DATA
Design your instrument it should be relevant for the topic chosen. If it is a :
Questionnaire –
Construct a questionnaire
Interview –
Questions you will ask in the interview
Observation –
Observation checklist etc…
Task 5 – PROCEDURE USED TO COLLECT DATA
Describe how you chose your you sample location, # of persons in the sample, their gender, age group, civil status
etc... ; how the instrument was given to them how they returned (if it is a questionnaire) observation checklist
length of interview etc…
Task 6 – PRESENTATION OF DATA
Present the data in three forms these can be: graphs, charts, tables, pictographs etc… the data must be a
representation of data which is answered in a question . identify the question which the data represents. White a
short sentence below the figure explaining what it is depicting. Eg: Fig. 1 is a bar graph showing etc…
Task 7 – ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Interpret the data in terms of the research questions try to give an answer ad build a discussion around your
answer. Draw on your previous presentation in task 6 give credibility to your discussion. Discuss what your findings
reveal.
Task 8 – Findings
Write three (3) statements/sentences on what you have found from the investigation of the problem.
Task 9 – RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATIGY
Write two (2) recommendations that suggest ways to find solution to the problem in task 1.Suggest measures as to
how you would implement one of the recommendations you / you suggest.
Bibliography
List any source you have consulted. Materials should be listed in alphabetical order.
Example:
Beddoe, B. Bernard. L (et al)
Social studies For the Caribbean CXC core limits and options
Heinemann: Londo, 1996.
Glossary (if necessary)
Any terms used throughout the research that is not standard English must be explained since a word used in your
country might have a different meaning in other parts of the region.
Appendix (if necessary)
Samples of pamphlets, photographs, newspaper clippings maybe included in this section. These should be dated
where possible.
*REMEMBER IF YOU DO NOT SUMIT YOUR RESEARCH YOU AUTOMATICALLY FAIL THE EXAM*

4. CHECK LIST
Cover page with appropriate information
Title page. {Title must be bold Font size 14. Nothing
else should be on this page}
Acknowledgement
Table of Contents
Components – All nine (9) tasks attempted each
done on a separate page.
Bibliography
Appendix – (if applicable)
Spelling - {Run a spell check on te document or ask
someone to check it for you}
Vocabulary – Write your research in the third
person. We/I is not accepted. “The researcher”
should be used throughout the document
Finally
Final Copy
The researcher must staple or otherwise firmly secure entire document and
place in a simple soft back folder