Analyzing the Survey Part I

Male or Female?

This question is able to tell me the gender of my participants and, as you can tell, the majority of my participants are female. One reason for this can be because I personally asked more females than males. Personally asking people is different than posting the web address because people feel as if they should participate if I personally ask them to. This may be one reason why I have more female participants. Another reason can be that females might be more willing to share their opinions about this issue than males. I do not think the larger amount of female participants greatly affects my results. However, It might have added a more "motherly" opinion in some cases.

The Age of the Participants

The age of my participants varies a lot more than expected. I am able to get at least one opinion from most of the age groups. However, I am missing viewpoints from the older members of society. One reason why many of my participants are between 14 and 20 is because most of my friends and classmates are in that age range. Having participants of an older age really benefits my research because their opinions include personal childhood experiences and how they are raising their own children. Also, people of an older age might view physical abuse differently than people of a younger age because of the culture differences when they were raised.

Are you a Parent?

As expected, many of my participants are not parents, nor have they ever been parents. This is probably because a younger population is targeted, although not purposely. It is interesting to see the various responses, especially when parents clearly outline the differences between discipline and physical abuse.

The Effects of Abuse

 Research shows that children who suffer early abuse have significant behavior problems including emotional instability, depression, and a tendency to be violent. My survey results are similar because many people respond that scars, aggressive behavior, and depression result from abuse. One thing I find interesting is that many people believe that physically abusing a child can lead to an abusive parenting style. This topic is debated and is proven wrong. Other responses include loneliness, social disorders, and children feeling withdrawn from adults. Someone even mentions that all these could occur but they do not have to.

Do Abused Children Become Abusive Parents?

The responses to this question are surprising. Because of the previous question, I expect a lot more people to answer yes. However, many people say no to this question. Participants probably think the severity of the abuse affects the self more than a definite yes or no. Also, in the actual survey, the choices are: Yes, it is beyond their control; No, each person has the ability to decide how they want to treat their children; and Maybe, it depends on the severity and the amount of the abuse. The way the answers are phrased can affect how people answer and by providing explanations with the yes, no, and maybe answers, I might have influenced people's opinions.