Page 39 - Social Norms Survey

Corner Reasonings (CRs), recommended as one method by the CSJP, and endorsed by

the two experienced CR facilitators engaged to run them, are very popular with youth in
Jamaican communities. The participants experience this methodology as highly inclusive.

They feel that the “outsiders” are “coming down to their level.” These reasonings are held
in spaces or “corners” in communities where youth usually gather to reason or have a

“meds.” A respected “gate-keeper” mobilises, in this instance males between 18 and
23
29 years of age, the target group most prone to violence, for the start of the gathering. But

these are discussions held in public spaces and open to anyone who passes by.

The facilitation process is an assorted blend of the scripted and unscripted, as the style
represents a crude form of organic flow and spontaneity that assists in creating a relaxed

environment in which hot-button issues can be fully interrogated. The space is rather
fluid; therefore, the ebb and flow of residents in the discussion is unavoidable. As a result,

facilitators concentrate on holding the focus of at least six to eight persons in order to
collect the data. Typically, the duration of the reasoning is not as long as a Focus Group

Discussion (FGD) since these males are less likely to remain focused for long periods. In
addition, the fluidity of the space oftentimes functions as a distraction and can result in

lower concentration levels, which have a natural propensity to affect data collection.

REFRESHMENT
Reasonings and Focus Groups always included refreshments, beginning with a cold drink

at the start of the gathering, followed towards the end of the event, by a meal. The
24
usual drinks for the target group (alcohol for most) and cigarettes energized the Corner

Reasonings.

Data Gathering
Data were gathered from:

a. Focus Group Discussions
• Six focus group discussions (FGDs) with a total of 34 high school students, 18

males and 16 females. The instrument was pre-tested.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
23 Meditation/Reflection
24 All group gatherings were held in the hot summer months and it is assumed that there are always at least a few who
are hungry when they arrive.

15