Sense of Responsibility and Respect in school Children

OBJECTIVE: To study the factors related to responsibility and respect, among school children of classes
IX-XII.
INTRODUCTION: Responsibility can be comprehended as a state or fact of being answerable or
accountable for something within ones power, control or management (ref.Google). From a very young
age, children are endowed with various forms of self and school responsibilities which help them grow
as individuals.
Respect, on the other hand is a positive feeling of esteem and deference, felt by one person for another.
Respect can be a specific feeling of regard for the actual qualities of the one respected too. (Ref.Google)
This survey was conducted in order to assess the quality of the sense of respect and responsibility in the
minds of these individuals.
METHODOLOGY: A questionnaire was framed that took into consideration the various factors that
affect the qualities like responsibility and the need for respect, both self and others, within an
adolescent. These factors were as follows:

Personal respect
Maintaining relationships with responsibility
Personal principles
Peer Influence
Gender bias
Personal freedom

TOOLS

Question bank ( copy of the questionnaire is attached at the back )

The manner of answering was using a 5-point scale. The options were Strongly Agree, Agree,
Doubtful, Disagree, and Strongly Disagree.
A sample size of 25 students was selected from different schools across Kolkata.

INTERPRETATIONS
The data is computed for individual scores. It is as follows:

RESPECT
1. AUTHORITATIVE V/S EARNED RESPECT- Out of the questions asked, the majority of 38%
strongly agreed on I am always respectful towards my elders and teachers in school. While,
54% students believe that Teachers must earn students respect. Thus highlighting that they
believe that respect should be earned and not simply given due to an individuals post or
authority.

TEACHERS MUST EARN

STUDENTS' RESPECT

ALWAYS RESPECTFUL TO
ELDERS

Strongly Agree

Agree

Strongly Agree

Agree

Doubtful

Disagree

Doubtful

Strongly Disagree
4% 4%

Strongly Disagree
8% 4%
19%

38%

38%

54%

31%

2. ACCEPTING DIFFERENCES - Out of questions asked, individually, the majority of 42% students
believe that people with different opinions can co-exist peacefully, 27% students believe that
they tend to get distanced from their friends on a disagreement of opinions. Showing though
the students can peacefully co-exist, there are situation based disparities.
People with different opinions can coexist
Strongly Agree
Doubtful
Strongly Disagree

8%

Agree
Disagree

8%
15%

27%

42%

I distance myself when someone

insults me.
Strongly Agree

Agree

Doubtful

Disagree

Strongly Disagree
15%
23%
27%
19%

16%

3. SELF RESPECT- Out of 3 questions asked, the majority of 17 students, strongly agreed on I
maintain myself respect in any relationship I am in and also, Treat others the way youd like
them to treat you. equally. 42% students feel that their Teachers genuinely care and respect
them.

Treat others the way you

want to be treated.

Priority to self
respect

17

17

7
7

Strongly
Agree

Agree

2
Doubtful

Strongly
Agree

Agree

Doubtful Strongly
Disagree

I am genuinely cared
for, by my teachers.
Strongly Agree

Agree

Doubtful

Disagree
8%

12%

42%
38%

4. RESPECT FOR GIRLS- In general, the students, having a gender distribution of 8 girls to 18 boys,
strongly agree that It is important to give respect to girls, under any circumstance.

17

Important to
respect girls in any
condition.
4

Strongly
Agree

Agree

Doubtful Disagree

5. GENDER DIFFERENCE ACROSS THE SURVEY- There is an evident difference in answers between
boys and girls. The given data was tabulated and cumulatively this bar graph shows the
difference in opinions keeping gender differences in mind.

GENDER DIFFERENCES
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

In conclusion, through this survey, the students of this generation appear to be highly
respectful towards self as well as others. Having said this, the students give due respect only
on the basis of credit and not just due to authority or position. They maintain their selfrespect in any relationship that they are in but at the same time do not indulge in
disrespecting others. Girls are given prime respect in any circumstance. Students also feel
that people with differential opinions can co-exist peacefully.

RESPONSIBILITY
1. RESPONSIBILITY V/S FREEDOM- Out of 2 questions asked, individually, a majority of 58%
students agree that Responsibility tends to curb ones personal freedom and 30% students
strongly agree that there is no difference between obligation and responsibility.

CURBS PERSONAL FREEDOM

Strongly Agree

Agree

Doubtful

8%

Strongly Disagree

19%

15%

58%

NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OBLIGATION

AND RESPONSIBILITY
Strongly Agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

15%

Doubtful

30%

22%
26%

7%

2. LOCUS OF CONTROL The aim of these questions to determine if the responsibility that one
takes up, is forced or by ones own initiative. There are two factors to consider, Internal (A
person in wholly responsible for himself or herself) and External (External situations effect the
persons decision making and factors related to responsibility). Out of 3 questions asked,
individually, 69% students strongly agreed that they are responsible for their one future, 54%
strongly agree that I accept all the consequences of my behavior Thus highlighting the
importance and prevalence of Internal Locus of Control. Also, 38% of students agree that
sometimes external situations influence their decision making process.

EXTERNAL FACTORS INFLUENCE

MY DECISION
Strongly Agree

Agree

Doubtful

Disagree

Strongly Disagree
8% 8%

23%

38%

23%

I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MY
OWN FUTURE (INTERNAL)

Agree
31%
Strongly
Agree
69%

I ACCEPT ALL
CONSEQUENCES OF MY
BEHAVIOUR (INTERNAL)
Strongly Agree

Agree

Doubtful

Disagree
4%
15%

27%

54%

3. GENDER DIFFERENCE- There is an evident difference in answers between boys and girls. The
given data was tabulated and cumulatively this bar graph shows the difference in opinions
keeping gender differences in mind.

GENDER DIFFERENCE
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

In conclusion, through this survey, the students of this generation appear to be highly
responsible to both self, and the society. Having said this, the students also are well aware of
how their behavior has consequences and thus they tend to internalize their locus of control
and take charge for their own life.
Paper by: Kriti Jalan

RESPOSIBILTY AND RESPECT

1-Strongly Agree : 2- Agree : 3- Doubtful : 4- Disagree : 5- Strongly Disagree

1- Responsibility is the most important like skill amongst individuals.

2- Responsibility tends to curb ones personal freedom.

3- Personal responsibility is more important that professional responsibility.

4- I set regular goals for things I wish to accomplish in my life.

5- I am willing to help my school mates if they are in trouble, even if they are not my friends.

6- Girls and boys, both, are equally responsible in all the tasks.

7- There is no difference between responsibility and obligation.

8-

Responsibility of ones own self is the most important, of all the kinds of responsibility.

9- Teac hers must earn students respect.

10- Treat others the way youd like them to treat you.

11- I keep my self respect before any relation I maintain.

12- It is important to give respect to girls, under any circumstance.

13- Respect and following rules, hinder my sense of independence.

14- I feel that teachers genuinely care and respect me.

15- I make sure I am ready for school for the next day, before I go to bed.

16- I get along well with teachers and other students, and I know how to resolve conflicts
peacefully.

17- My future is up to me.

18- You can't control what life puts at your doorstep, but you have complete control over how you
respond to it.

19- I get greatly affect when someone behaves disrespectfully towards me.
20- I know that I am responsible for what I do and that I must accept the consequences of my
behavior.
21- I know that I am responsible for what I do, but situations matter a lot in making decisions too.
22- I very often experience a range of emotions due to back less responsible.
23- I am often reprimanded at school for not doing my work on time.
24- My parents are proud of what choices I have made
25- I know my parents have great expectations out of me, but their views vary with regards to mine.