FAMILY BACKGROUND AND INVOLVEMENT IN STREET VIOLENCE AMONG YOUTHS IN SHOMOLU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT

This study examined family background and involvement in street violence among youths in shomolu local government Lagos state. It investigates specific objectives such as family size, family type, parent’s educational status, parent’s occupational status and how they influence involvement in street violence among youths. The study further examined existing literature of various scholars; three theories were applied and used to explain the prevalence of street violence. The theories adopted were Structural functionalist, social cognitive and social control theories. The quantitative method was used, and the sampling method used was the probability sampling technique. Specifically, the multi-stage sampling technique adopted was the survey method. The research instrument used was the questionnaire and a sample size of 271 respondents was selected. The respondents were male and female youths within the age bracket of the ages of 18-35 years old living and working in shomolu local government area of Lagos state. The data collected from the field were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The results are represented in tables, simple frequency percentage were used for the objectives while chi-square analysis was used to test the hypothesis raised. Four hypotheses were raised, two of the hypotheses were accepted and two were rejected. Recommendations were made in tandem with the findings of this study.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page                                                                                                                                i

Certification                                                                                                                            ii

Dedication                                                                                                                              iii

Acknowledgements                                                                                                                iv

Table of Contents                                                                                                                   v         

List of Tables                                                                                                                          viii

Abstract                                                                                                                                  ix

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the study                                                                                            1

1.2              Statement of the problem                                                                                           3

1.3              Objectives of the study                                                                                               5

1.4              Research Questions                                                                                                     5

1.5              Scope of the study                                                                                                      6

1.6              Conceptual clarification                                                                                              6

1.7              Significance of the study                                                                                            8

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1              Introduction                                                                                                                9

2.2       Family type and youth involvement in violence                                                         10

2.3       Family size and youth involvement in violence                                                          15

2.4       Parents educational/financial status and youth involvement in violence                    17

CHAPTER THREE: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

3.1          Introduction                                                                                                              21

3.2                 Functionalism or Structural functionalism                                                                21

3.3                 Structural functionalism and youth violence                                                             23

3.4                 Social Cognitive theory                                                                                             25

3.5                 Social control theory                                                                                                 26

CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

4.1.      Introduction                                                                                                                29

4.2       Research design                                                                                                          29

4.3       Study location                                                                                                             30

4.4.      Study Population                                                                                                        31

4.5       Sampling methods/Techniques                                                                                   31

4.6       Research instrument/Fieldwork procedure                                                                 32

4.7       Sample Size                                                                                                                 33

4.8       Method of data analysis                                                                                             33

4.9       Limitations of study                                                                                                   34

4.10     Research hypothesis                                                                                                    34

CHAPTER FIVE: DATA ANALYSIS/FINDINGS

5.0       Data Presentation, Analysis And Interpretation                                                        36       

5.1       Socio-demographic profile of respondents                                                                 36

5.2       Distribution of Respondents by Family background                                                  39

5.3       Distribution of Respondents by involvement in street violence                                 43

5.4       Test of hypothesis                                                                                                       45

CHAPTER SIX

6.1       Introduction                                                                                                                50

6.2       Summary of findings                                                                                                  50

6.3       Conclusion                                                                                                                  51

6.4       Recommendations                                                                                                      52

Bibliography                                                                                                                           54

Appendix                                                                                                                                59