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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION 1
Background 1
Research Goal 2
METHODOLOGY 3
Variables of Comparison 3
Biological Sex (yprsex) 3
Friends vs Family (ypfriend/ypfriendrecode) 4
Attitude to Premarital Sex (yppms/yppms2) 5
Influence of Media/News (yppaper) 5
Belief in God (ypgodblf/ypgodblf2) 6
The age of the respondents (yprage/yprage2grp) 7
RESULTS / FINDINGS 8
Impact of Friends (ypfriend/ypfriendrecode) 8
CONCLUSION 15
REFERENCES 16
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Candidate No: 0138037
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Candidate No: 0138037
Introduction
The focus of this report is to analyze the respondents’ answers to the
acceptability of premarital sex (44a/yppms) in light of many perceived social factors
including but not limited to the desire to spend more time with friends over family
(48c/ypfriend), if the respondent reads the paper three or more times a week
(63a/yppaper), respondents belief in God (66/ypgodblf), and the respondents age
(69/yprage). These comparisons will occur against the backdrop of the observed
gender (yprsex) of the respondent as recorded by the interviewer in the 1998 Young
People’s Social Attitudes survey. The goal of this secondary data analysis is to gain
some insight into the sources of information that provide the basis for sexual and
relationship knowledge amongst young people in the United Kingdom. The
comparison is then to look at the difference between young people who utilize friends
(48c), news/media (63a), and religion (66) to provide a basis for social attitudes
towards sex.
Background
The literature on Young People’s social attitudes toward sex is specifically
targeted at the desire to curb the teen pregnancy rate in the United Kingdom
(Enhancing Sexual Wellbeing in Scotland, 2003) as well as a desire to inform and
educate about the need to utilize contraception and avoid sexually transmitted
infections (STI) (Sex and Relationship Education Guidance, 2000, p.15). The
recurring topic within the literature is the focus on the resources and the educational
programs provided by schools in order to assist in educating the young people of the
United Kingdom (Sex and Relationships Education in Schools, 2002).
Upon reviewing the attitudinal variable selected, young people’s social
attitude towards premarital sex (44a) with reference to 1998 YPSA and as well
through a literature review it would appear that premarital sex is not accorded any
significant moral disapprobation in the United Kingdom (Park, Philips & Johnson,
2004, p. 55). Therefore the response by the United Kingdom is to provide education
on the means of contraception and to address the reality of young people having sex
before marriage. To be direct the teaching of abstinence as the sole means of
contraception is not a method followed in the United Kingdom.
Furthermore there is considerable discussion of the need to tailor the education
of both biological sexes independently to meet the needs of the youth of Britain
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Candidate No: 0138037
(Qualitative Consultation with Young People in the City of Glasgow on Sexual Health
and Relationships, 2006). The focus on the difference in sex education between the
biological sexes is the main basis for dividing the attitudinal variable concerning
premarital sex (44a/yppms) immediately on the basis of observed sex (yprsex).
However, it is clear that the difference between the biological sexes in education does
not mean that young men or women do not desire to learn about the opposite sex
when it comes to sexual health and relationships (Executive Summary: The Sexual
Health and Relationships of Young People in Glasgow, 2006, pg IV).
Where do Young People get there information on sexual health and
relationships? The most common place would be the friends and social groups of the
young person involved with “School, books, magazines and TV/radio” coming before
“mothers (fifth place) and fathers (seventh)”(Towards Better Sexual Health, 2002).
This information provides some insight on the sources of social attitudes of young
people on sexual health and relationships and provides the motivation to investigate
the relationship between the responses to premarital sex (44a) and friends (48c),
media (63a), and religion (66).
Research Goal
The goal of this secondary analysis is to identify relationships between young
people’s social attitudes to premarital sex and the influence of friends, media, and
religion. Based on the review of the literature relating to Young people’s social
attitudes and learning methods, the analysis will be conducted while maintaining a
division in respondents based on sex (yprsex) (Warwick & Aggleton, 2001, pg. 12).
The pool of respondents 474 is almost an even division with 238 respondents being
male and 236 being female. The natural division that the 1998 YPSA provides allows
for a greater ability to look at differences in social attitudes based on gender and
sources of influence.
Through preliminary review of relevant studies it was apparent that the educational
background of the respondent’s parents and social attitudes of the parents play a key
role in the responses of young people however this seems to be incompatible with the
knowledge that young people seek friends, media, and religion/belief before parents
when it comes to sexual behavior (Park, Philips & Johnson, 2004, pps 54-61). This
analysis will hopefully provide a revelation to an avenue which is effective in
communicating accurate information as it relates to sexual health and relationships to
young people in Great Britain.
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Methodology
The approach taken in this research is that the topic of premarital sex in one
which is involved in the day to day lives of Young People. Therefore research into
the factors which may influence the knowledge and sexual practices of Young People
would provide a benefit to current education programs. The variable in question
(44a/yppms) looks at the attitudes of the Young Person in relation to the degree of
distaste or acceptance of sex before marriage. The question as asked in the 1998
YPSA survey was:
44a. Now some questions about sexual relationships. Firstly, if a man
and a woman have sexual relations before marriage, what would you
general opinion be? Please choose a number from this card.
[Answer Choices: 1 Always wrong, 2 Mostly wrong, 3 Sometimes
wrong, 4 Rarely wrong, 5 Not wrong at all, 6 (Depends), 8 (Don’t
know)] (Young People’s Social Attitudes 1998, 2000).
Taking this question at face value it is one of the only two questions contained within
the 1998 YPSA which deal directly with social attitudes towards sexual behavior and
practices. Unlike research and surveys which have occurred post 1998 YPSA this
survey is limited in its scope concerning sexual health and attitudes. Therefore it is
necessary in light of this limitation to try to identify significant relationships between
variables which might impact the acceptance of premarital sex amongst Young
People.
Variables of Comparison
As outlined above Young People’s attitudes to premarital sex (44a) will be
compared to the Young Person’s preference of spending time with friends over family
(48c), whether or not the Young Person reads the paper 3 or more times a week (63a),
and if the Young Person believes in God (66). These three variables seek to
determine if there is a significant relationship between sources of information on
sexual health and social acceptance of sex before marriage in Young People.
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Candidate No: 0138037
biological sex of the respondent was determined by the observation of the interviewer
and therefore was not phased as a responsive question unlike the rest of the variables
used to conduct this secondary analysis.
Primary analysis was done by using the crosstabs in SPSS 14. Using (yprsex) as the
independent variable (rows), (yppms) as the dependent variable (columns), and
(ypfriend) as a filter for a three-way crosstab the analysis was unable to yield results
which displayed a significant relationship between social attitudes to premarital sex
and spending time with friends over family. Therefore it was necessary to recode the
responses to (ypfriend) into a new variable (ypfriendrecode) to assist in the
identification of a significant relationship.
The recoding of the variable (ypfriend) to (ypfriendrecode) involved the
consolidation of answers in the following manner. The responses of Agree Strongly
(1) and Agree (2) were consolidated in the response friends over family (1 rec).
Neither agree nor disagree (3) was left as an independent category renamed
sometimes friends over family (2 rec). The responses Disagree (4) and Strongly
Disagree (5) were combined to form family over friends (3 rec). Finally the Can’t
choose (8) and Not Answered (9) was recoded into one category of not answered /
don’t know (4 rec). After this recoding the analysis still was unable to yield
significant results so the variable of interest (yppms) was as well recoded to increase
the number of respondents for the appropriate statistical tests. Utilizing the crosstabs
feature of SPSS 14 the analysis was then re-processed using (yprsex) as the row,
(yppms2) as the column, and (ypfriendrecode) as the filter for the three way analysis
which yielded more relevant results.
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Candidate No: 0138037
63a. Now some questions about yourself. Firstly, do you normally read
any daily morning newspapers at least 3 times a week? [Answers 1 Yes
2 No] (Young People’s Social Attitudes 1998, 2000)
The focus of this variable is then to look at the means by which Young People acquire
information about the events of the day. However, it is also evident from the review
of three “daily morning newspapers” that attitudes to sexual health and relationships
are prevalent in such media ( Abortion Wait is Cruel, 22-1-2007, pg 18; All ages shun
birth control, 23-1-2007, pg 7; Women wary of condom ‘jinx’…, 24-1-2007, pg 11).
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Candidate No: 0138037
There was no need to recode the variable (yppaper) because the respondents
made it a dichotomous variable with only two (2) possible responses. The
respondents also managed to all answer the question making it unnecessary to address
not answered responses.
The purpose of this question is to address the belief in God which is prevalent in the
respondent and I would suggest this variable would have impact on the response of
the social attitudes to premarital sex.
The analysis was conducted by running a cross tab with (yprsex) row, (yppms)
column, and (ypgodblf) as a filter, a three way cross. The analysis however was once
again plagued by respondents dispersed among many groups therefore a recoding was
necessary to continue the analysis. The recoding was undertaken and the variable
(ypgodblf2) was created to condense the responses to allow for more accurate data
analysis. The responses never believed (1) and used to believe (2) were combined
under the general meaning of the variables into do not believe currently (1 rec). The
responses do now, but didn’t (3) and do now, always did (4) have been recoded into
the response believe currently or always did (2 rec). Finally the responses of other
answer (5), don’t know (8), and not answered (9) are grouped into one category of
other/ don’t know/ not answered (3 rec). Once the recoding was complete the
analysis was continued using cross tabs with (yprsex) row, (yppms) column, and
(ypgodblf2) as a filter. This analysis was still unable to yield results so the finally
analysis using crosstabs was done with (yprsex) row, (yppms2) column, and
(ypgodblf2) as a filter. The final analysis was able to produce the results desired by
grouping the responses into larger groups of respondents.
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Candidate No: 0138037
The respondents then gave their age as a numeric value. The category itself (yprage)
was unable to provide assistance in the analysis in its current form and required
recoding into the variable (yprage2grp) in order to allow for a larger pool of
individuals to compare responses. The recoding was done by grouping the
individuals who reported their age between 12 and 15 years old into one group (1 rec)
and the 16 to 19 year old respondents into a second group (2 rec). This process
allowed the new variable to be utilized to look at the impact of age on the response to
the view of premarital sex. The crosstab involved (yprsex) row, (yppms2) column,
and (yprage2grp) as a filter to look for a relationship in the responses based on the age
of consent in the United Kingdom. The age division was the result of dividing the
group along the lines of age of consent, which is 16 in the United Kingdom, to
provide larger sample groups for analysis.
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Candidate No: 0138037
Results / Findings
The analysis of the Young People’s Social Attitudes 1998 with reference to
attitudes surrounding premarital sex (yppms / yppms2) while looking at the sources of
information on sexual health and relationship such as friends (ypfriend /
ypfriendrecode), media (yppaper), and belief in god (ypgodblf / ypgodblf2) with the
final analysis looking for differences in respondents attitudes when looking at age
(yprage / yprage2grp) yielded the following results.
Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent
Valid Agree strongly 6 1.3 1.3 1.3
Agree 62 13.1 13.1 14.3
Neither agree/disagree 146 30.8 30.8 45.1
Disagree 188 39.7 39.7 84.8
Disagree strongly 46 9.7 9.7 94.5
Can't choose 21 4.4 4.4 98.9
Not answered 5 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 474 100.0 100.0
Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent
Valid friends over family 68 14.3 14.3 14.3
sometimes friends
over family 146 30.8 30.8 45.1
family over friends 234 49.4 49.4 94.5
Not answered /
Don't Know 26 5.5 5.5 100.0
Total 474 100.0 100.0
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Candidate No: 0138037
Once the recoding of the variable was complete the analysis was then completed
using crosstabs to identify the following relationship between (yppms2) and
(ypfriendrecode) with respect to biological sex (yprsex).
Chi-Square Tests
Asymp. Sig.
ypfriendrecode Value df (2-sided)
friends over family Pearson Chi-Square 2.343(a) 3 .504
Likelihood Ratio 2.780 3 .427
Linear-by-Linear
.981 1 .322
Association
N of Valid Cases
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sometimes friends Pearson Chi-Square 4.075(b) 3 .254
over family Likelihood Ratio 4.277 3 .233
Linear-by-Linear
2.909 1 .088
Association
N of Valid Cases 146
family over friends Pearson Chi-Square
1.312(c) 3 .726
Likelihood Ratio 1.315 3 .726
Linear-by-Linear
.303 1 .582
Association
N of Valid Cases 234
Not answered / Pearson Chi-Square 6.149(d) 3 .105
Don't Know Likelihood Ratio
7.035 3 .071
Linear-by-Linear
.540 1 .462
Association
N of Valid Cases 26
a. 6 cells (75.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is .49.
b. 4 cells (50.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 2.33.
c. 1 cells (12.5%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 4.83.
d. 6 cells (75.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is .92.
Symmetric Measures
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Candidate No: 0138037
With the understanding that people who spend more time with their friends would be
more likely to feel premarital sex is okay a hypothesis was created that people who
spend time with their family would be less likely to feel premarital sex is okay. The
null hypothesis was then created that people who spend more time with family would
be more likely to find premarital sex okay. Upon review of the results it appears that
the Null Hypothesis is correct as well the analysis using Chi square was unable to
yield results in all but one case. In that case there still was at least one cell with a
count less than 5 but that is within guidelines for crosses larger than 2x2. The Phi and
Cramer’s V analysis of the same result still is unable to display an association that is
related to anything greater than chance. In this case the hypothesis was unable to be
supported by the results even after recoding. The only observation of note was that
the Young People that stayed at home actually were okay with premarital sex, but this
could be due to the large group size.
Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent
Valid Yes 211 44.5 44.5 44.5
No 263 55.5 55.5 100.0
Total 474 100.0 100.0
Table 5: yppaper frequency
The analysis was then conducted of (yprsex) row, (yppms2) column, and (yppaper) as
a filter to look for a significant relationship.
Chi-Square Tests
R reads newspaper
3+times a week? Asymp. Sig.
YP63A READPAP Value df (2-sided)
Yes Pearson Chi-Square .980(a) 3 .806
Likelihood Ratio .987 3 .804
Linear-by-Linear
.008 1 .930
Association
N of Valid Cases
211
No Pearson Chi-Square 2.271(b) 3 .518
Likelihood Ratio 2.269 3 .519
Linear-by-Linear
.511 1 .475
Association
N of Valid Cases 263
a. 2 cells (25.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 1.29.
b. 0 cells (.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 8.52.
Table 6: Chi Square Analysis yppaper
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Candidate No: 0138037
Symmetric Measures
R reads newspaper
3+times a week?
YP63A READPAP Value Approx. Sig.
Yes Nominal by Phi .068 .806
Nominal Cramer's V .068 .806
N of Valid Cases 211
No Nominal by Phi .093 .518
Nominal Cramer's V .093 .518
N of Valid Cases 263
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis.
b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
Table 7: Phi & Cramer's V yppaper
The results once again were disappointing. The analysis did yield a field that was
able to survive the use of a crosstabs/contingency tables however even with no cells
with a count below zero the analysis is unable to continue because the level of
significance is above the allowed level of p<0.05 or 5 in 100 and therefore any
relationship can not be determined on this factor alone. One point of interest was the
evidence that females that don’t read the paper seem to be more likely to think sex is
okay. This seems counter-intuitive when it is thought that media provides
information to Young People about sexual health but maybe the media is providing
stories which scare rather than educate. The hypothesis then that the media influences
or is associated with Young People’s social attitude to premarital sex is also not
supportable.
Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent
Valid Do not believe currently 203 42.8 42.8 42.8
Believe currently or
always did 233 49.2 49.2 92.0
Don't Know (8) / Not
Answered (9) / Other 38 8.0 8.0 100.0
Answer (5)
Total 474 100.0 100.0
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Candidate No: 0138037
Symmetric Measures
The results again proved to not support the hypothesis that there is a relationship
between the Young Person’s belief in god and attitude to premarital sex with
reference to the gender of the Young Person. The hypothesis could not be supported
even though with recoding the analysis was able to yield at least one contingency
table that could provide some data. The problem with the data is that even after
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Candidate No: 0138037
recoding the pool of respondents seems too small to enable results to support the
hypothesis that this variable has influence over the young person’s social attitude to
premarital sex.
Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent
Valid 12-15 yr old 258 54.4 54.4 54.4
16 - 19 yr old 216 45.6 45.6 100.0
Total 474 100.0 100.0
Table 11: Recoded yprage to yprage2grp
Chi-Square Tests
Symmetric Measures
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Candidate No: 0138037
The results once again did not provide the results of statistical significance in the
analysis. The recoding of the variable however did achieve the creation of a viable
cross tabulation involving the 12-15 yr old group. However any association is outside
the acceptable parameter of p<0.05 and no association between age group and
respondents opinion on premarital sex can be substantiated. However it does appear
that females in the age range between 16-19 have more hesitation about premarital
sex (79 Okay) when compared to 12-15 (89 Okay) which may be explained by
personal experience alone.
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Candidate No: 0138037
Conclusion
The goal of this secondary analysis was to identify and evaluate the presence
of any significant association between Young People’s social attitude to premarital
sex (yppms) and the influence of friends (ypfriend), media (yppaper), God (ypgodblf),
and age (yprage) to target the style of education and knowledge base of Young
People’s sexual awareness.
The analysis utilized the differentiation in the literature based on biological
sex as a constant and then compared the recoded variable (yppms2) to the following
variables to discern any link between them utilizing the Chi Square Test as well as Phi
and Cramer’s V. The variables that remained in all analysis were (yprsex) row,
(yppms2) column, and then a third filter factor (ypfriendrecode, yppaper, ypgodblf2,
and yprage2grp) was interchanged to provide the analysis. The results however did
not support any clear association between the variables and even after recoding the
issue remained that many of the cells involved in the Chi Square test did not have
sufficient data to allow for analysis. This research was not able to sustain the
hypothesis that one of these variables had an association to the Young person’s
attitude towards premarital sex. This is a disappointment however it appears from
literature review that more recent studies clearly involve a much larger data pool that
this study at a cap of 474 respondents. The results may not have been forthcoming in
the analysis however they do provide insight into some social trends that should be
studied in more detail.
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Candidate No: 0138037
References
1. ‘Abortion wait is cruel’, 2007, Metro, 22 January, p. 18
3. Bryman, 2004, Social Research Methods: Second Edition, Oxford University Press,
New York
5. Executive Summary December 2006: The sexual health and relationships of young
people in Glasgow, 2006, online pdf, FMR Research, viewed 23 Jan 2007,
http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4EB58C91-8DB1-4119-A5BD-
757391BC7F27/0/FMRfinalExecSummary61206.pdf
6. Park, Philips & Johnson, Young People in Britain: The Attitudes and Experiences
of 12 to 19 Year Olds, 2004, online pdf, viewed 23 Jan 2007,
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RR564.pdf
7. Qualitative Consultation with Young People in the City of Glsgow on Sexual Health
and Relationships, 2006, online pdf, Progressive, viewed 23 Jan 2007,
http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/1CC3947A-98D8-44EB-B091-
5190D403BA04/0/Progressivefinalexecsummary61206.pdf
8. Sex and Relationship Education Guidance, 2000, online pdf, viewed on 23 Jan
2007, http://www.dfes.gov.uk/sreguidance/sexeducation.pdf
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2007, http://www.hpw.wales.gov.uk/healtheschool_01/pdf/sexrel_e.pdf
10. Social and Community Planning Research, Young People’s Social Attitudes, 1998
[computer file]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Archive [distributor], December
2000. SN: 4231
11. Towards Better Sexual Health: Main findings of this major new survey of the
sexual attitudes and lifestyles of young people in Northern Ireland, 2002, online
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12. Warwick & Aggleton, Learning from what young people say …about sex,
relationships and health, 2001, online pdf, viewed on 23 Jan 2007,
http://www.safepassages.soton.ac.uk/pdfs/learningfromypsay.pdf
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