Introduction

We the students of INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT have done a survey in which we took the reactions of the students who have been the victim of ragging once in their lives. By selecting the topic of “the effects of ragging on students” we came to know that it has been rightly said that the end may not always justify the means behind the illusion of ‘welcoming’ new students to college, ragging, in actuality, is a notorious practice wherein the senior students get an excuse to harass their juniors. Apart from sustaining grievous physical injuries, those unfortunate students who become a victim of ragging either develop a fear psychosis that haunts them throughout their lives, or worse, quit their college education even before it begins. For any student who slogs day and night to secure admission into a prestigious college, ragging can be his or her worst nightmare come true. It would not be an exaggeration to say that, today, ragging has taken the shape of a serious human rights violation with even the most respected and disciplined educational institutes falling prey to it.

In common parlance, ragging means playing practical jokes on somebody or teaching someone a lesson. Today, ragging may have become deep rooted in almost every educational set up, but many would be surprised to know that ragging is originally a western concept. Ragging is supposed to have its creation in certain European Universities where seniors played practical jokes at the time of welcoming freshmen to the institutions. Gradually, the practice of ragging became popular throughout the world. However, with time, ragging assumed obnoxious and harmful connotations and was severely condemned. Today, almost all countries of the world have enacted stern laws that ban ragging and it has been completely eradicated in countries such as Canada and Japan. But sadly, India, which inherited ragging as a legacy from the British Raj, has not been able to free itself from the clutches of this inhuman practice. It can be said, without any room for doubt, that the worst form of ragging is committed in India.

Methodology

The sample

In March 2011, around 110 questionnaires were sent out to a sample of people comprising of youngsters; mostly students of College level. The final instrument i.e. questionnaire included 15 questions, relevant to the topic of the study. A Total of 100 usable replies were received – a response rate of 90.90%. The people who responded to the survey belong to the Institue of Business Management, Karachi, Pakistan. Demographics of the respondents are as follows,

AGE SUM OF NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS18-206621-232324+ 11

GENDERNO. OF RESPONDENTSMALE 50FEAMLE50TOTAL 100

MEASURE

Questionnaire Description:Sample size was decided to be used for conducting the survey. It was decided to use a comprehensive questionnaire as an instrument for gathering survey data. Some statistical operations were performed on the gathered raw data to convert it into more structured and analytical form for drawing inferences.Through survey we developed a questionnaire based on certain variables:

Independent VariableRagging

Dependent Variable 1. Students2. Parents of victimized students3. Society

The questionnaire consisted of 15 multiple choice questions based questions.

PROCEDURE

A survey questionnaire was constructed, the copies of which were distributed among the group members to conduct the survey. Each member was to obtain responses format least 20 participants.

Purpose of StudyThe aim of the study is that “What are the psychological effects of ragging” and what is actually the psyche of the ragger. Moreover, we will come to know about the ragging effects over the society.

Consent FormThe consent form was distributed along with the questionnaire.

Demographic For demographic factors, respondents were asked to indicate their age, gender and education level. The Questionnaire was intelligently divided and the flow was maintained in question so as to maintain the logical flow of thoughts.

RESULTS

Table 1 represents:

AgeResponses Percentage

a [18-20] 66%b [21-23] 23%c [24-above] 11%

Table 2 represents:

GenderResponses Percentage

a Male 50%b Female 50%

Table 3 represents:

SemesterResponses Percentage

a Freshman 62%b Sophomore 13%c Junior 08%d Senior 17%

Table 4 represents:

Question no. 1Responses Percentage

a Teasing 61%b Taunting 12%c Verbal Torture 11%d Others 16%

Table 5 represents:

Question no. 2Responses Percentage

a Gestural 7%b Verbal 54%c Physical 33%d Others 6%

Table 6 represents:

Question no. 3Responses Percentage

a Worse 13%b Fun 41%c None/just ok 42%d Others 04%

Table 7 represents:

Question no. 4Responses Percentage

a School 06%b College 74%c Workplace 00%d Others 20%

Table 8 represents:

Question no. 5Responses Percentage

a Fashion statement

35%

b Bullying 41%c Degrading 06%d Others 18%

Table 9 represents:

Question no. 6Responses percentage

a It can26%

b Somewhat 41%c Sometimes 24%d Others 09%

Table 10 represents:

Question no. 7Responses Percentage

a Extremism 18%b Biasness 10%c Humiliation 63%d Others 09%

Table 11 represents:

Question no. 8Responses Percentage

a Recurring practice

59%

b Vengeance 16%c Nominal

strictness23%

d Others 02%

Table 12 represents:

Question no. 9Responses Percentage

a No laws 37%b Neglection 17%c No idea 45%d Others 01%

Table 13 represents:

Question no. 10Responses Percentage

a Setting up disciplinary committees

29%

b Interaction of staff with freshman

14%

c Formulating disciplinary restrictions

46%

d Others 11%

Table 14 represents:

Question no. 11Responses Percentage

a Volunteer security

30%

b Guarding possible ragging zones

37%

c Signing undertakings from seniors

25%

d Others 07%

Table 15 represents:

Question no. 12Responses Percentage

a No change 72%b Low-self-

confidence12%

c Slight fear 10%d Others 06%

Table 16 represents:

Question no. 13Responses Percentage

a Yes it does 28%b To some

extent49%

c I don’t agree 20%d Don’t know 03%

Table 17 represents:

Question no. 14Responses Percentage

a Hatred 20%b Friendship 41%c Revengeful 32%d Others 07%

Table 18 represents:

Question no. 15Responses Percentage

a Annoyance 32%b They enjoy 10%c No link 55%d Others 03%

Appendix A

Research Questionnaire

INFORM CONSENT FORM

Title of the Study:Psychological Effects of Ragging.Principal Investigators:Taimoor Ali Khanzada, Ali Noor Ali Kamaruddin, Marium Sultana, Ayesha Ahmed Choudry, AsharSuhailQuddusiInstitute: Institute of Business Management Introduction:We are from Institute Of Business Management and doing research on “Psychological Effects of Ragging” we would like to invite you to join this research study.Background Information:Ragging, from quite some time now, has become a subject of prominence. Ragging is found to have been developing roots in psychological disorders in life of students specially; therefore we have decided to research on this subject to evaluate its complications and precautionary measures to avoid it.Purpose of This Research Study:This research will help us to know that what are the actual effects ragging creates on the freshman. Moreover, we will come to know that what is the psyche of the ragger & what impact does it creates on the society. Possible Risk or Benefits:There is no risk in this study except your valuable time. There is no direct benefit to you also. However the result of the study may help us to know more about the impact on news channels specifically on youth.Right Of Refusal To Participate And Withdraw:You are free to participate in the study. You may refuse to participate without any loss or benefit which you are otherwise entitled to. You may also withdraw any time from the study without any adverse effect. You may also refuse to answer some or all the questions if you don’t feel comfortable with those questions.Confidentiality:The information provided by you will be confidential. Nobody except principal investigators will have an access to it. Your name and identity will also not be disclosed at any time.Authorization:I have read and understand this consent form, and I volunteer to participate in this research study.

Participant sign:Principal’s investigator signature:

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

AGE: (a) (18-20) (b) (21-23) (c) (24- Above) GENDER: (a) Male (b) Female

SEMESTER: (a) Freshman (b) Sophomore (c) Junior (d) Senior

AFFILIATION (if not a student of IoBM):

INSTRUCTIONS:

Please attempt all questions. Fill only one check box for each question. If selecting the ‘others’ option, please specify your opinion.

1. What is your opinion about the meaning of ‘Ragging’?(a) Teasing (b) Taunting (c) Verbal Torture (d) Others

2. Which forms of ragging are you aware of?(a) Gestural (b) Verbal (c) Physical (d) Others

3. How was your personal experience with ragging?(a) Worse (b) Fun (c) None/just ok (d) Others

4. Where have you witnessed ragging?(a) School (b) College (c) Workplace (d) Others

5. Why do you think ragging is done?(a) Fashion statement (b) Bullying (c) Degrading (d) Others

6. Do you think “counseling” as a therapy would help in such a case?(a) It can (b) Somewhat (c) Sometimes (d) Others

7. Why should ragging be condemned if it is harmless fun?(a) Extremism (b) Biasness (c) Humiliation (d) Others

8. Why is the practice so difficult to change?(a) Recurring Practice (b) Vengeance (c) Nominal strictness (d) Others

9. Are there any laws against ragging?

(a) No laws (b) Neglection (c) No idea (d) Others

10.What in your opinion should be institute’s role in stopping ragging?(a) Setting up disciplinary committees (b) Interaction of staff with freshman(c) Formulating disciplinary restrictions (d) Others

11.What measures in your opinion can be taken to reduce this behavior?(a) Volunteer security (b) Guarding possible ragging zones (c) Signing undertakings from seniors (d) Others

12.Do you feel any major change in your personal life after any ragging experience?(a) No change (b) Low-self-confidence (c) slight fear (d) Others

13.Do you think that the ragging experience leads to low-self-confidence of a fresh student already nervous and unfamiliar of his/her surroundings?(a) Yes it does (b) To some extent (c) I don’t agree (d) Don’t know

14.What impression ragging has over the relationship between seniors and fresh students?(a) Hatred (b) Friendship (c) Revengeful (d) Others

15.Do you think ragging has any link with the parents of victimized students?(a) Annoyance (b) They enjoy (c) No link (d) Others

“THANK YOU”

Appendix B

Graphical Representation of the Questions

Semester

FreshmanSophomoreJuniorSenior

Gender

MaleFemale

Age

[18-20][21-23][24-above]

Question no. 1

TeasingTauntingVerbal TortureOthers

Question no. 2

GesturalVerbalPhysicalOthers

Question no.3

WorseFunNone/just okOthers

Question no. 4

SchoolCollegeWorkplaceOthers

Question no. 5

Fashion statementBullyingDegradingOthers

Question no. 6

It CanSomewhatSometimesOthers

Question no. 7

ExtremismBiasnessHumiliationOthers

Question no. 8

Recurring practiceVengeanceNominal strictnessOthers

Question no. 9

No lawsNeglectionNo ideaOthers

Question no. 10

Setting up disciplinary commit-teesInteraction of staff with freshmanFormulating disciplinary restric-tionsOthers

Question no. 11

Volunteer securityGuarding possible ragging zonesSigning undertakings from seniorsOthers

Question no. 12

No changeLow-self-confidenceSlight fearOthers

Question no. 13

Yes it doesTo some extentI don’t agreeDon’t know

Question no. 14

HatredFriendshipRevengefulOthers

Question no. 15

AnnoyanceThey enjoyNo linkOthers