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Caribbean Secondary Examination 2017
Social Studies
School Based Assessment
Name of Candidate:MirandaMalone
Candidate Number: 0900430290
Name of Centre:NorthRuimveldt Secondary
Title of Study:Water Pollution
Territory:Guyana
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Task One
Statement of Problem
What are the effects of Water Pollution on residence in the East-La Penitence
area?
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Task Two
Reason for selecting the area of research
The reason for the researcher selecting this area of research was becauseof her
curiosity upon knowing why there was often a constant blockagewith the
drainage canal within the environment, why residents were constantly
complaining about the situation and the researcher also wants to discover a
solution as to how the residence within her village can all co-operate and solve
this problem of water pollution.
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Task Three
Method of investigation
In order to collect data from the survey, theresearcher decides to used the
questionnairemethod. This method was chosen because it allows for data to be
collected froma large number of persons in a shortamount of time and it
promotes confidentiality. The questionnairewill be investigating the issues
leading to water pollution in the East-La Penitence area. The researcher will
distribute a total of twenty-five(25) questionnaires to carry put this investigation.
14% of the respondents werefemales while the 11% remaining were males.
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Task Four
INSTRUMENT USED TO COLLECT DATA
Copy of Questionnaire
Cover Letter
This is a survey being conducted to determine the amount of people that is
responsiblefor voting in the La-Penitence area.
This study is being conducted as an assignmentfor a social-studies courseI am
pursuing at present.
You are advised to answer the following questions honestly and truthfully. Your
answers to these questions will be held in all confident. There is no right and
wrong answer.
Thank you
Miranda Malone
Yours sincerely
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QUESTIONNAIRE
1. What is your Sex?
Male ( ) Female ( )
2. What is your Ethnicity?
Amerindian ( ) African ( ) East Indian ( ) Mixed ( )
3. How long have you been residing in East- La penitence?
Over 10 years ( ) 6 – 10 years ( )
1 – 5 years ( ) 1 year ( )
4. How regularly is garbagecollected in your area?
6 – 7 days a week ( ) 4 – 6 days a week ( )
2 – 3 days a week ( ) garbagenot collected at all
( )
5. What do you do with uncollected garbage?
Wait on the garbagetruck ( ) Burn the garbage( )
Dump it into the drainage canal ( ) other ( )
6. What is the major contributing factor of water pollution in your area?
City council not viewing the matter ( ) Unsanitary
residents ( )
Lack of education on water pollution ( ) Non-collection of
garbage( )
7. What are someof the ways in which you and your household can be more
informed about water pollution?
Internet( ) Posters ( ) In school( ) Community
( )
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8. How would you rate the issueof water pollution in your area?
Serious ( ) very serious ( ) Not serious ( )
9. If you saw couple pieces of trash by the canal or in the canal whatwould
you do?
Pick it up and place it in a trash can ( ) Pick it up ( )
10.How does the polluted canal affect you?
Flooding ( ) Disease( ) Breeding mosquito ( )
11.How often are you affected by water pollution?
Yearly ( ) Monthly ( ) Weekly ( )
12.Whomdo you believe is responsiblefor maintaining the drainage canal?
Government( ) City Council ( ) Residence ( )
13.How regularly is garbagethrown into the drainage canal?
Daily basis ( ) Weekly ( )
14.What are someof the consequences you think persons contributing to
water pollution should face?
Pay fine ( ) Community Service ( ) Jail ( ) other
( )
15.For you selected option state why you think this should be the
consequence
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Task Five
Procedure for Data Collection
The researcher carried out an investigation in the East-La penitence area to find
out the effects water pollution has on the people within the Community. This area
has approximately 40 residents and a sample of 25% was needed to carry out the
investigation.
The sample was chosen using random selection method. The lots of of residents
were written on pieces of paper and placed in a bag which was shaken. The
researcher used the firsttwenty-fivelot numbers that was pulled out of the bag
to carry out the investigation. These questionnaires were distributed in one day
and lasted one day to complete. Out of the twenty-fivequestionnaires distributed
all was retrieved upon completion, these were used to complete the report.
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Task Six
Presentation of Data
Figure 1 showing the major contributing factor of water pollution inthe area
Major contributing
factor ofwater
pollutioninthe area
Tally Frequency Percentage
City council not
viewingthe mater
l l l l 4 10%
Unsanitary
residents
l l l l l l l l l l l l 15 50%
Lack of education
on water pollution
l l l 3 10%
Non-collectionof
garbage
l l l 3 30%
Total 25 25 100%
Figure 1. Showsthe majorcontributingfactorsof waterpollutionwithinthe East-Lapenitence area.
Most of the residents saidUnsanitaryresidenceisthe majorcause whichis50%, 30% saidNon-
collectionof garbage,10%said Citycouncil notviewingthe matterand10% Lack of educationonwater
pollution.
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Figure 2 showing how oftengarbage is being collected
Figure2 indicates how often garbageis collected. Mostof the residents, 56% said
that their garbageis not collected at all, 2% said their garbageis collected 4-6
days weekly ,40% said their garbage is collected 2-3 days weekly and 2 % said
their garbage is collected 6-7 days weekly.
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Figure 3 shows how often residence is affected by water pollution
Figure3 indicates how residenceis affected by water pollution fromtime to time.
Itshows that 68% is affected by water pollution monthly, 12% yearly and 20%
weekly.
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Task Seven
ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
The introduction of impurities into water which adversely affects humans, animals
and aquatic lives is referred to as water pollution.
Itis caused mainly by the following:
IndustrialWaste
Domestic influent
Sewage
Fertilizer and Pesticides
Oil spills
One consequenceof water pollution is solid waste accumulating in canals and
drains contributing to flooding.
In the analysis it was seen that the main factor responsiblefor contributing to
water pollution is the unsanitary residents which was 50%. However, with the
residents being unsanitary this may lead to the circulation of all kind of diseases
with the area.
The analysis shows that56% of garbagewas not collected according to a proper
schedule. In most cases weather the garbageis placed into plastic bags or garbage
cans or other containers are left for long period outsidethese residence, this
allows for the scattering of the garbageby dogs and cats searching for food.
In the analysis 68% of the residenceis affected by water pollution monthly from
time to time. This is a major issuewhich needs to be attended by residents and
the authorities.
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Task Eight
STATEMENT OF FINDINGS
The survey has revealed a number of deficiencies which leads to the causeof
water pollution in the La-Penitence drainage canal.
12% said garbageis dumped weekly, while 88% said garbage is
dumped daily. According to the survey the garbageis dumped into
the drainagecanal because it is not collected at all.
Cases of dead animals are not collected by the garbagecollector
therefore they are thrown into the canal.
In mostcases the garbagecollectors do not pick up scattered
garbage, so it find its way into the drainage canal.
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Task Nine
RECOMMENDATIONS
The most important recommendations is in order to maintain a healthy
environmentin the La-Penitence village, each resident, the garbagecollectors and
the governmentmustplay their role to alleviate many of the problems caused by
water pollution.
In the efforts sign should be placed where garbagedisposalshould not take
place.
The local governmentauthorities should set up programs to educate the
residents about proper garbagedisposalthis should happen by organizing a
community meetings and by doing this residencewill be educated on water
pollution and the consequences. Henceresidence and authorities will both
work together to deal with this problem.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
In order to solve the problem the researcher could:
Help to build signs showing the consequences of water pollution and it will
also indicate to them that it is illegal to dump garbageinto the canal.
Also print flyers to distribute to the residence, helping to educate them
about proper garbagedisposal.
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Appendix
QUESTIONNAIRE
1. What is your Gender?
Male ( ) Female ( )
2. What is your Ethnicity?
Amerindian ( ) African ( ) East Indian ( ) Mixed ( )
3. How long have you been residing in East- La penitence?
Over 10 years ( ) 6 – 10 years ( )
1 – 5 years ( ) 1 year ( )
4. How regularly is garbagecollected in your area?
6 – 7 days a week ( ) 4 – 6 days a week ( )
2 – 3 days a week ( ) garbagenot collected at all
( )
5. What do you do with uncollected garbage?
Wait on the garbagetruck ( ) Burn the garbage( )
Dump it into the drainage canal ( ) other ( )
6. What is the major contributing factor of water pollution in your area?
City council not viewing the matter ( ) Unsanitary
residents ( )
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Lack of education on water pollution ( ) Non-collection of
garbage( )
7. What are someof the ways in which you and your household can be more
informed about water pollution?
Internet( ) Posters ( ) In school( ) Community
( )
8. How would you rate the issueof water pollution in your area?
Serious ( ) very serious ( ) Not serious ( )
9. If you saw couple pieces of trash by the canal or in the canal whatwould
you do?
Pick it up and place it in a trash can ( ) Pick it up ( )
Leave it there ( )
10.How does the polluted canal affect you?
Flooding ( ) Disease( ) Breeding mosquito ( )
11.How often are you affected by water pollution?
Yearly ( ) Monthly ( ) Weekly ( )
12.Whomdo you believe is responsiblefor maintaining the drainage canal?
Government( ) City Council ( ) Residence ( )
13.How regularly is garbagethrown into the drainage canal?
Daily basis ( ) Weekly ( ) During tidal
changes ( )
14.What are someof the consequences you think persons contributing to
water pollution should face?
Pay fine ( ) Community Service () Jail ( )
other ( )
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15.For you selected option state why you think this should be the
consequence
When this happen persons with the community will not want to repeat this
action after it has occurred.
Photos showing Water Pollution