New Mexico Supercomputing Challenge
Shiprock High School
Team #: 063
Area of Science: Behavioral and Social Sciences
Team Members:
Sponsoring Teachers:
Executive Summary | Introduction | Hypothesis/Model | Project Description | Method/Implementation | The Survey
Conclusion | Recommendations | Acknowledgements |
References
Executive Summary
So far we have studied the behavior of people and there opinions we've had help from the internet and mentors we've had people say, they don't know the difference between right and wrong, don't know what peer pressure is, and don't have control of their lives. Many people experience peer pressure and cave under the "pressure" other are more enduring, they just do not follow the crowd. In some cases, peer pressure has caused damage to the individual or individuals with little or great consequences it has ether caused damage maybe mentally or physically.
Introduction
Hypothesis/Model
Definition: Social pressure from members of your group to accept certain beliefs or act in certain ways in order to be accepted.
We chose this project because we thought that we should choose a subject that we could all relate to in some way or have experienced. There really isn't anyone who hasn't been around peer pressure. Students sometimes feel the need to fit in or be like other people in order for them to feel accepted.
Project Description
Method/Implementation
We decided that we wanted to do a project that we teenagers can relate to. The first thing we did was find out about our subject. We went on the internet and read some of the stories that the teenagers had, and the experiences that they went through. They also had people who gave them advice.
We also went to the library and read some books on peer pressure. Unfortunately, there was only one book, but it had a lot of information and related subjects that we didn't know that also deal with peer pressure. The book was called "Coping with Peer Pressure". It was a big help in our research and had a lot of information that we didn't even know about peer pressure. It was written by a woman who had studied peer pressure for quit some time.
We decided that we wanted to know if the students at our high school dealt with peer pressure or even knew what it meant. So in order to do this, we thought that we would give them a survey to take. We asked them several questions related to the subject. Since we couldn't survey the whole school, we only surveyed the Freshmen and the Seniors. The reason we picked them was because we wanted to know if they experienced any kind of pressure from their time spent at the high school.
The Survey
1. Do you think SHS students deal with Peer Pressure?
2. Have you experienced Peer Pressure?
3. Do you know the difference between positive and negative?
4. Do you have the same friends you had when you were 12 years old?
5. Do you think that you hang around with the right crowd?
6. Would others think you hang around with the right crowd?
7. Do you have high self-esteem?
8. Do you know the difference between right and wrong?
9. Do you have control of your life?
The results from the survey are above:
Freshmen Seniors
Conclusion
From our project, we learned that there is both positive and negative peer pressure. Negative peer pressure is when you are pressured into doing something that you wouldn't normally do or you just don't want to do at all. Positive peer pressure is when you are encouraged to do better and is only for the better. Like team work when playing a game.
Some people are also pressured into doing certain things that are maybe illegal or something they don't want to do. They usually do this to fit in or having a certain group or person befriend you. Blackmale is sometimes associated with it as well. For example, say you wanted to be friends with the people you thought were absolutely cool and they didn't know or talk to you at all. In order for you to be apart of their group, they probably would tell you to do something you wouldn't want to do. It's all up to you from there. It's just a matter of making choices. When this happens and you don't know what to do, you have to think of everything and the consequences you might suffer. There are ways and things to remember when you are making a choice. Think of what you really want, and what you think is right.
There are many things that are associated with peer pressure. Whether it's drugs, alcohol, school, grades, friends, boyfriend/girlfriend, everyone goes through it.
Recommendations
What we would like to do with our project is to maybe help some people in some way with their choices. Helping them make the right choice with the knowledge that we have now. We hope to help some people in decision making and helping them go through with it . There are many types of peer pressure. Positive and negative. Whether it's about choosing friends, drugs, another gender involvement, school, abuse, or even family. There is always a solution. It's just a matter of making decisions.
People sometimes go through peer pressure almost all the time and some people don't really know what's right and what's wrong anymore. They have difficulty with their social life and other people. We have some tips for their benefit in making choices and hope it will help them in some way.
Here are five simple steps to remember:
1) Identify your goal
a) Before you make a decision, figure out what's important to you.
2) Check out your options
a) Gather information you need to make your decision.
3) Consider the consequences
.
a) Ask yourself what the results of your decision will be.
4) Make a choice
a) Once you've gathered information and thought about what matters most to you, it's time to make a choice.
5) Review your decision
a) Once you've made your decision and acted on it, evaluate your choice to make sure it works.
Acknowledgements
" Mrs. Noble
" Mrs. Hines
" Mrs. Johnson
" Eric Ovaska
" James Taylor
" Mrs. Speake (Guidance Counselor)
" SHS students
References
" "Coping with Peer Pressure" by Leslie S. Kaplan
" Brochures received by Guidance Counselor
" Internet (Yahoo @ Peer AND Pressure.com)
" SHS library
