Design of the Study
This study is mainly a quantitative study and it follows a correlation research design. A correlation research design is a study that describes the extent to which the variables are related. Correlation method tries to determine whether and to what degree a relationship exists between two or more variables. The present study examined the relationship among negative peer pressure and drinking alcohol; negative peer pressure and early sexual engagement; drinking alcohol and early sexual engagement.
Study Area
The study area was Asosa Zone, West of Ethiopia. The study covered three selected Woredas namely, Assosa Woreda, Bambasi Woreda and Homosha Woreda. In Assosa Woreda the included schools were Nebarkomeshga and Hoha number two; from Bambasi Woreda;Bambasi and Keshemando and from Homosha Woreda;Homosha and Tsorealmatema secondary schools were selected.
Population
The target population of the study was all students enrolled in grade 9 and 10 in secondary schools of Assosa Zone, West of Ethiopia in 2012 E.C academic year. There were totally 3,165 students in the selected schools of which 1,901 were males and 1,264 were females.
Sample Size
The sample size was determined by using Yamane’s formula [17].
n= N/1+N (e) 2
Where, N = Total population
n = Sample size
e = Sampling error (5%)
n = N/1+N (e) 2
n = 3165/1+3165 (0.05) 2
n = 355
n1 (Female) = 50% = 355 x 50/100 = 178 and n2 (Male) = 50% = 355 x 50/100 = 177
Sampling Techniques
The researcher used multi stage sampling method. Purposive sampling was used to select three Woredas among the 7 Woredas from Assosa Zone due to accessibility of transportation and nearness. Using a list of all the secondary schools (15) in the selected Zone 6 (40%) secondary schools were randomly selected. The selected schools were stratified by their grade level (grade 9 and 10). Then, the grade levels were stratified by section. And the sections were stratified by sex. Using Proportionate stratified random sampling 180 male and 175 female students were selected from sample size 355. It is to ensure equal representation of boys and girls in the study.
Data Collection Tools
The instruments were structured questionnaires in the form of self inventory reports in order to gain a comprehensive input which reflects the right feeling of respondents. To measure the negative peer pressure, the Peer Pressure Inventory was used. This instrument was developed from [1]. This instrument is a 21-paired item. But, for the purposes of this study the negative peer pressure items were taken. The scores of respondents for each item were coded from -3 – -1 with the no influence option scored as zero. Thus: 0 = no negative peer pressure, -1= little negative peer pressure, -2= medium negative peer pressure and -3= high negative peer pressure.
Drinking Alcohol to measure drinking alcohol, Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index was employed. Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index is a 10-item (modified) self-administered instrument for assessing adolescent alcohol consumption. It was developed by [8] Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index measures adolescents' problems as a result of drinking alcohol, the feeling and motivation to use alcohol and any further information about the intensity and its influence on individuals early sexual engagement of each item were coded from 0 to 3 where, 0 represented none, 1 represented 1-2 times, 2 represented 3-5 times and 3 represented more than 5 times. Additionally the sexual engagement questionnaires were constructed by the researcher himself and edited by research and community service board members. The questionnaire has 6 items which was coded in 1= yes and 2= no alternative form.
Reliability and Validity of the instrument
The researcher used a pilot testing. The purpose of this pilot testing was to get comment and information about the clarity and understandability of the questionnaires. In addition, this pilot testing helped to avoid vague words and restructure the actual questionnaires. The researcher adapted adequate questions considering the context of the target setting. The standardized English version scales were translated in to Amharic version which is a local language of the participants in order to be more understandable, and to gain valid and more reliable data.
Data Analysis Methods
The researcher used descriptive statistics to describe the demographic characteristics of the participants. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationship between (negative peer pressure and drinking alcohol, negative peer pressure and early sexual engagement, drinking alcohol and early sexual engagement). In addition, independent sample t-test was employed to test whether there is significant difference in negative peer pressure, drinking alcohol and early sexual engagement across gender. Moreover, multiple regression analysis was used to test the relative contribution of negative peer pressure and drinking alcohol on early sexual engagement. Additionally, the analysis was done by using SPSS version 20.
Data Analysis Procedures
First the quantitative data gathered by questionnaires was collected, counted and organized according to its structure and type. Then it was inserted in to computer software especially using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. Then it was analyzed, interpreted and discussed referencing the research objectives.