ECONOMICS SBA

Cover Page
The demand mobile phones among High School students in
Tobago

Title Page
Name of Candidate: Emerald CC Pierre
School: Signal Hill Secondary School
Subject: Economics
Candidate Number:
Teacher: Ms. Telt
Project Synopsis: An investigation of the factors that affect the
demands for Mobile Devices such as phones among high school
students in Tobago
Where the Project takes place: Trinidad and Tobago
Date Submitted: May 30th 2016

Table of Contents
Acknowledgment1
Title.2
Aims and Objectives...............3

Methodology4
Introduction...5
Presentation of collected data6
Analysis and Interpretation12

Findings8
Recommendations.9
Bibliography..10
Appendix.11

Acknowledgment

This project would not have been possible without the guidance
and help of many individuals who in more ways than one,
contributed to its completion. I would like to thank my friends
and family for taking time out of their busy day to assist me in
gathering the information needed in order to complete this
project. I would also like to thank my Economics teacher Ms
Telt for putting out the guidelines needed for such a task to be
completed.

Title
An investigation into the factors affecting the demand for the mobile
device known as a cell phone among high school students in Tobago

Aims and Purposes

1) To determine the relationship between the quantity of the

phone being demanded and the various prices it may have

2) To develop/create improved attitudes and skills towards

such a subject

3) To promote self- learning through the use of practical skills

4) To understand the subject better by examining it closely

Methodology
Primary Data/ Primary Research is defined as, by Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_research
Primary research consists of a collection of original primary data collected by the
researcher. It is often undertaken after the researcher has gained some insight into
the issue by reviewing secondary research or by analyzing previously collected
primary data.[clarification needed] It can be accomplished through various methods, including
questionnaires and telephone interviews in market research, or experiments and
direct observations in the physical sciences, amongst others. The distinction
between primary research and secondary research is crucial among marketresearch professionals.
To this end, I asked a total of forty (40) high school students such as myself and recorded their answers
via notebook. I also got my information via newspapers

Secondary Data/Secondary Research is defined as, by Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_research

Secondary research (also known as desk research) involves the summary, collation and/or
synthesis of existing research rather than primary research, in which data are collected from, for
example, research subjects or experiments.[1]
Care should be taken to distinguish secondary research from primary research that uses raw
secondary data sources. The key of distinction is whether the secondary source used has already
been analyzed and interpreted by the primary authors
The information used for my study came directly from high school kids such like me, my friends and
some Economic text books. I also used the internet to research the main usage for cell phones and why
teenagers were so drawn to them.

Introduction
According to the internet, more specifically a sight called
http://cellphones.about.com/od/coveringthebasics/a/What-Is-A-Cell-Phone.htm

A cell phone is any portable telephone which uses cellular network technology to make and
receive calls. The name comes from the cell-like structure of these networks. There is some
confusion about cell phones being a different thing to smart phones, but technically, every
mobile phone, from the latest Android handset to the simplest feature phone, is a cell phone. It is
all about the technology used to transmit your calls, rather than what the handset it can or cannot
do.
As long as a phone can transmit a signal to a cellular network, it is a cell phone.
The term Cell Phone is interchangeable with the terms Cellular Phone and Mobile
Phone. They all mean the same thing. The term Smartphone has come to mean a
cell phone which offers more advanced features than just calls, SMS messages and
basic organizer software
In addition to telephones, mobile phones boost more variety and are more up to
date with the times allowing them to be able to connect to the internet, talk almost
unlimitedly and even make certain tasks much easier. According to Digicel, T&Ts
true number one mobile network; People buy mobile phones are they are much less
costly and appeal to the younger generations by a much larger margin

Why Students Use Cellphones

Features
Style
Games
Calls

Figure 1
According to the graph above; there are a lot of things that influence high school students to buy cell
phones. The most common influence that students buy cell phones for are the features that come along
with every new phone that is created. This is because 95% of the time, students prefer style over
substance and because of this they lean more towards a phone that would have over nine thousand
different features than a phone that only has thirty. As also stated by the graph above, the style of the
phone or better yet, how it looks also plays a role as todays society would be quick to judge you based on
what your phone looks like rather than how it works. Calls and Games also come into play but not as
much as they used to.

Presentation of Data

14
12
10
Series 3

Series 2
6

Series 1

4
2
0
Ages 5-10

Ages 11-13

Ages 17-19

Ages 14-16

Figure 2
This graph here shows the age rates of people who buy mobile phones. Mobile Phones are more popular
with people from ages fourteen to sixteen because they are considered young and of course phones are
marketable towards them as they will be most willing to buy them. The other age groups however do not
show as much interests in mobile devices.

5
4.5
4
3.5
3

Series 1

2.5

Series 2

Series 3

1.5
1
0.5
0
1 month

5 months

A week

At least a year

Figure 3
This graph here shows how long students tend to have their cell phones for. As you can see, five students
have their cell phones around for at least a year, while only a meager three point five students could keep
their phones for a week without losing them or damaging them. This is proven by the chart obviously
shown above.

Girls vs Boys (Cellphone usage)

Female
Male

Figure 4
The graph above shows the amount of males who use cell phones versus the amount of females who use
cell phones. It has been noticed that females use their phones 72% times more than the boy who uses their
phones 28% times in high school. This could possibly be due to the fact that high school girls tend to talk
more than high school boys.

14
12
10
8

Series 3
Series 2

Series 1

4
2
0
Verizon

Bmobile

AT&T

Digicel

Figure 5
This chart here shows the different network s that people use. There were nineteen students who I
questions that stated that they would rather use Digicel over Bmobile and all the other networks simply
due to the fact that Digicel offers more than just phone service, they offer internet service, television
service and also have cheaper cell phone plans.

5
4.5
4
3.5
3

Series 1

2.5

Series 2

Series 3

1.5
1
0.5
0
Nokia

Alcatel

Iphone

Samsung

Figure 6
This chart shows the different types of brand that are bought by students. Samsung phones are currently
the most popular phones out due to the fact that they offer the most features and appeal to the masses
more so than any other phone. The other phones, while good in their own rights, are not as popular and
are considered outdated

Analysis and Interpretation

In high schools, demands for cell phones are high as indicated by the graphs on the previous pages. It is
shown that in percentages that the demand for phones goes up yearly.

What is demand?
Demand, as defined by http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/demand.asp
Demand is an economic principle that describes a consumer's desire and willingness to pay a price for a specific good or service. Holding
all other factors constant, an increase in the price of a good or service will decrease demand, and vice versa.
Read more: Demand Definition | Investopedia http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/demand.asp#ixzz4AFHLXgJF
Follow us: Investopedia on Facebook

The factor affecting demand is market elasticity. It is mostly a necessity and there are already a lot of
phones out there, so if the prices of phones were to go up, fewer people would buy new phones. If you
have good advertisements for your phones, more demands will be made. Just be sure however that the
advertisements are true, otherwise you could be sued for false advertisement and it can cost you a lot of
revenue.

Findings

It was shown that the demand for mobile phones

among high school students is affected by the
price. When the price for mobile phones goes
up, the demand for the mobile phones will
decrease. Should the prices for mobile phones
increase however, the demand for mobile
phones will sky rocket. This is because multiple
studies have proven that high school students
often will try to beg their parents for money
rather than work for it. Therefore when the
chance to buy a cell phone arrives and its
affordable then students will rush to purchase
said phone. The usage of cell phones truly have
become immensely popular now a days, its as if

its mandatory for people to have one whenever

they could get one.

Recommendations

Thanks to the research that I have done, I honestly believe

that students should be allowed to have cell phones, but
ONLY if they are old enough and responsible enough to
own one. I also believe that the various networks should
strive to offer better services to attract more customers.
They should perhaps offer cheaper data plans, better
phones for much more available costs. If they do this, I
believe that the demand for cell phones will increase
dramatically

Bibliography
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/demand.asp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://cellphones.about.com/od/coveringthebasics/a/What-Is-A-Cell-Phone.htm

Appendix
Questions I asked various students around Tobago.
1) Sex: Male

2) Age: 10-14

Female

15-18

19-20
3) What school do you attend?
4) What form/grade are you in?
Do you own a cell phone? Yes

No

Do you use your cell phone during school hours?

What is the estimated cost of a phone?
What is the brand of cell phone that you use..?
Is your cell phone postpaid or prepaid?
How often do you use your cell phone?
How many cell phones do you own?
Does this usage encroach on your tie for other activities such as home-work or chores? Yes
Which of the following influenced your decision to buy your particular cell phone?
Price
Brand name
Convenience

No

Style
Customer service
Special Features
At what time do you use your cell phone most for in the day?
For what purposes do you use your cell phone?
Do you believe those cell phones are a necessity?
What is your opinion on cell phone prices?
Would you buy a cell phone if the prices increased?
What is your best alternative in buying a cell phone?
What is your parents combined income?