The document outlines the requirements and tasks for a Social Studies School Based Assessment (SBA) project in the Caribbean. Students must: 1) Conduct guided research on a topic related to social or economic issues in their community. They must state the problem as a research question, rationale, and additional research questions. 2) Design a data collection instrument, describe procedures, and present and analyze findings through graphs, tables or other visuals. 3) Provide conclusions and recommendations based on three findings. The final SBA report must be 1000-1200 words and include all outlined tasks. Drafts are due in November and February, with strict deadlines to allow teacher feedback.

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 persons 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 your drafts a few days before the deadline and pressure your
teacher to mark and 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. Your report must be
between 1000 – 1200 words 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 – Rational (Reasons for Selecting the Area of Research)
Task 3 - State 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 and Explanation of Data)
1

2. Task 7 - Analyze and interpret the data in the form of the question asked in task 1
(Analysis and 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
1. The Research must be collected in order of task, i.e. task 1, task 2 etc…
2 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.
3 The following MUST be clearly visible on the outside of your folder:
School Based Assessment
Candidate’s Name:
Subject:
School:
Candidate #:
Centre #:
Territory:
Teacher:
Year:
TITLE:
2

3. 1. Title Page: The title page comes immediately behind the cover page, it should have only the
title in bold type (Font size 14)
2. Acknowledgement: This should be brief, acknowledge the contribution of the named
persons who contributed to the research NB Do not name buildings
books etc…
3. Table of Contents: This should be placed after the title page and organized according to tasks
4. 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.
NB: Must be placed in a simple soft backed folder, stapled together with no loose leaves falling out.
1 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.
2. Margins: Left margins must be 1.5”; top, right and bottom margins must be
1” (inches) each.
3

4. 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 the 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 and focus on the cause,
the effect and the solution/recommendations.
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?
4

5. Research Questions
1. What are some of the social problems caused by insane persons? (Cause)
2. How does the problem impact the lives of residents? (Effect)
3. What can be done to correct this problem? (Solution)
Task 2
Rationale (Reasons for selecting the Area of Research)
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 Investigation
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…
5

6. 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 and Explanation 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
Recommendation and Implementation of Strategy
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.
6

7. 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*
7

8. 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)
8

9. Spelling - {Run a spell check on the 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.
9