Rose-Mary Reynolds

Data Collection Sources

Applied research is being conducted within this study in order to collect data from students of the
Antigua State College, Golden Grove, Antigua on how fathers absences influence adolescents
self-esteem. Applied research alongside quantitative methods were deemed the most suitable
option as a study on this particular issue within this geographic area has never been done before
and it would aid the researcher in determining what effect a fathers absence has on an
adolescents self-esteem.
The researcher opted to utilize both primary and secondary sources of data. The primary source
of data, questionnaires, were self-administered to 30 students and recollected from Tuesday 10th
November to Thursday 12th November 2015. The questionnaires consisted of 15 questions, 13
close ended and 2 open ended questions. Questionnaires were chosen as the data collection
instrument as it allows for easy distribution and is one of the most cost and time effective
methods. The secondary sources of data included online websites, previous researches and
studies and journals that aided the researcher in understanding what effects have previous
researchers have found. Thus, a comparison can be made to determine if the same effects
determined within the previous studies were also found within this research.
The researcher utilized the convenience sampling method in order to choose the population size.
Convenience sampling is a sampling method that selects individuals based on their ease of
volunteering or their availability. This sampling method is the most suitable as it allows for quick
gathering of the data to be analysed. A total number of 30 students were chosen from this
sampling method.

Rose-Mary Reynolds

Questionnaire
My name is Rose-Mary Reynolds and I am a second year Caribbean Studies student. My Internal
Assessment requires me to distribute questionnaires in order to determine the effect of a fathers
absence on an adolescents self-esteem among the students at Antigua State College. Please
place an X in the box provided and do not place your name on this questionnaire as it is to
remain anonymous. Thank you for your participation in this questionnaire as your honesty is
greatly valued and appreciated.
.
1. Personal Details
a. Gender:
Male
b. Age:
15-16

Female

17-18

c. Family type:
Single mother family
Nuclear family
d. Department:
A level

19-20

21 and over

Visiting Union
Extended family

Engineering

Other: __________________

Commercial

2. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being the best and 5 being the worst, how would you rate your selfesteem?
1
2
3
4
5
If you are in a single mother family, answer questions 3-6
3. How long have you been living in a household without your father?
Less than a year
More than 5 years
1 5 years

4. What caused your father not to be living in the same household?

Divorce/Separation
Death

Rose-Mary Reynolds
Abandonment

Other: ____________________________

5. Do you have a relationship with your father?

Yes
No
b. If answered no, would you like to have had a relationship with your father?
Agree
Disagree
6. If you do not have a very high self-esteem, do you believe its as a result of not living
with your father?
Yes
No
7. World Family Organisation states that children are better off with both parents within the
household, do you agree with this statement?
Strongly agree
Agree
Uncertain Disagree Strongly disagree
8. Give a reason for your answer above
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
9. Do you think the government should implement policies to reduce the amount of singleparent/absent-father households?
Strongly agree
Agree
Uncertain Disagree Strongly disagree
10. Do you agree that fathers play an active role in the development of a child, just as a
mother?
Yes
No
11. What is your understanding of self-esteem? (Select as many options that apply)
It refers to an individuals self-worth
The image a person has of themselves
How confident an individual is of themselves
How an individual accepts themselves
12. Do you think having low self-esteem can lead to other behavioural issues or negative
implications?
Agree
Disagree
13. Do you think that adolescents low self-esteem is a very serious issue in Antigua?
Yes
No

Rose-Mary Reynolds
14. Give a reason for your answer above
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
15. Rate the options on a scale of 1-3 to which you think what factors are more prevalent in
impacting a teens self-esteem?
___ Body Image
___ Social Experiences
___ Academic performance
___ Approval by peers
___ Media
16. What do you think can be done to solve adolescents with self-esteem issues?
Therapy/counselling
Having healthier motivational thoughts
Self-appreciation exercises/seminars
Education on the issue within schools and public