Understanding Singaporeans : Values, Lifestyles, Aspirations and Consumption Behaviors

by Keng, Kau Ah; Kuan, Tambyah Siok; Jiuan, Tan Soo; Kwon, Jung; KAU, AH KENG

• ISBN13: 9789812387301
• ISBN10: 9812387307
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-08-15
• Publisher: World Scientific Pub Co Inc

Summary

This book details the findings of a large-scale survey on the values and lifestyles of 1500 Singapore residents in 2001. Semi-structured interviews with elderly and young adult Singaporeans were also conducted. This comprehensive study provides insights into Singaporeans' value orientations, personal values, aspirations, satisfaction with life and living in Singapore, media habits, leisure activities, Internet usage, how Singaporeans are similar to or differ from one another, etc.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgement	vii
About the Authors	ix
Foreword	xiii
List of Charts	xxi
List of Tables	xxiii
1. Introduction and Research Methodology	1	(16)
1.1 Background of Study	1	(4)
1.2 Survey Research Methodology	5	(4)
1.2.1 Questionnaire development	5	(3)
1.2.2 Sample selection and data collection	8	(1)
1.2.3 Data analysis	8	(1)
1.3 Sample Description	9	(5)
1.3.1 Representativeness of sample	9	(5)
1.4 Research Methodology for Semi-Structured Interviews	14	(2)
1.4.1 Interview guide development	14	(1)
1.4.2 Interview data collection	14	(1)
1.4.3 Interview data analysis	15	(1)
1.5 Summary	16	(1)
2. Value Orientations	17	(14)
2.1 Family Values	17	(3)
2.1.1 Overview of family values	18	(1)
2.1.2 Family values by demographic background	18	(2)
2.2 Societal Consciousness	20	(2)
2.2.1 Overview of societal consciousness	20	(2)
2.2.2 Societal consciousness by demographic background	22	(1)
2.3 Status Consciousness	22	(2)
2.3.1 Overview of status consciousness	22	(1)
2.3.2 Status consciousness by demographic background	22	(2)
2.4 Traditionalism	24	(1)
2.4.1 Overview of traditionalism	24	(1)
2.4.2 Traditionalism by demographic background	24	(1)
2.5 Materialism	25	(1)
2.5.1 Overview of materialism	26	(1)
2.5.2 Materialism by demographic background	26	(1)
2.6 Entrepreneurial Spirit	26	(2)
2.6.1 Overview of entrepreneurial spirit	26	(2)
2.6.2 Entrepreneurial spirit by demographic background	28	(1)
2.7 Summary and Implications	28	(3)
3. Personal Values and Life Aspirations	31	(20)
3.1 Personal Values	31	(1)
3.2 Longitudinal Comparison of Personal Values (1996 versus 2001)	32	(1)
3.3 Personal Values by Demographic Background	33	(6)
3.3.1 Gender	34	(1)
3.3.2 Marital status	34	(1)
3.3.3 Ethnic groups	35	(1)
3.3.4 Age groups	35	(2)
3.3.5 Education	37	(1)
3.3.6 Personal income	38	(1)
3.4 Summary and Implications - Personal Values	39	(1)
3.5 Life Aspirations (Things Wanted Most in Life)	40	(1)
3.6 Things Wanted Most in Life by Demographic Background	40	(7)
3.6.1 Gender	42	(1)
3.6.2 Marital status	42	(1)
3.6.3 Age groups	43	(2)
3.6.4 Ethnic groups	45	(1)
3.6.5 Education	46	(1)
3.6.6 Personal income	47	(1)
3.7 Summary and Implications - Life Aspirations	47	(4)
4. Life Satisfaction	51	(18)
4.1 Satisfaction with Various Aspects of Life	51	(1)
4.2 Life Satisfaction: 2001 versus 1996	52	(1)
4.3 Life Satisfaction by Demographic Background	53	(5)
4.3.1 Gender	53	(1)
4.3.2 Marital status	54	(1)
4.3.3 Ethnic groups	55	(1)
4.3.4 Age groups	55	(1)
4.3.5 Education	56	(1)
4.3.6 Personal income	57	(1)
4.4 Satisfaction with Life in Singapore	58	(1)
4.5 Satisfaction with Life in Singapore: 1996 versus 2001	58	(2)
4.6 Satisfaction with Life in Singapore by Demographic Background	60	(7)
4.6.1 Gender	60	(1)
4.6.2 Marital status	61	(1)
4.6.3 Ethnic groups	62	(1)
4.6.4 Age groups	63	(1)
4.6.5 Education	64	(1)
4.6.6 Personal income	65	(2)
4.7 Summary and Implications - Satisfaction with Life	67	(2)
5. Media Habits	69	(28)
5.1 Television Program	69	(7)
5.1.1 Television program preferences by demographics	69	(7)
5.1.2 Summary and implications - television program	76	(1)
5.2 Radio	76	(6)
5.2.1 Radio program preferences by demographics	76	(6)
5.2.2 Summary and implications-radio program	82	(1)
5.3 Newspapers	82	(7)
5.3.1 Newspaper by demographics	83	(6)
5.3.2 Summary and implications - newspapers	89	(1)
5.4 Magazines	89	(8)
5.4.1 Magazines readership by demographics	90	(4)
5.4.2 Summary and implications - magazines	94	(3)
6. Leisure Activities	97	(38)
6.1 Sports	97	(6)
6.1.1 Sports by demographics	98	(5)
6.1.2 Summary and implications-sports	103	(1)
6.2 Social and Cultural Activities	103	(6)
6.2.1 Social and cultural activities by demographics	104	(4)
6.2.2 Summary and implications - social and cultural activities	108	(1)
6.3 Self-Improvement Activities	109	(5)
6.3.1 Self-improvement activities by demographics	110	(3)
6.3.2 Summary and implications-self-improvement activities	113	(1)
6.4 Various Charity, Social Work, and Community Activities	114	(5)
6.4.1 Various charity, social work, and community activities by demographics	115	(3)
6.4.2 Summary and implications - charity, social work, and community activities	118	(1)
6.5 Travel Activities	119	(4)
6.5.1 Travel activities by demographics	119	(4)
6.5.2 Summary and implications - travel activities	123	(1)
6.6 Home Entertainment Activities	123	(6)
6.6.1 Home entertainment activities by demographic background	124	(4)
6.6.2 Summary and implications-home entertainment activities	128	(1)
6.7 Other Activities	129	(6)
6.7.1 Various other activities by demographics	130	(4)
6.7.2 Summary and implications-other activities	134	(1)
7. Internet Usage and Behavior	135	(18)
7.1 E-Orientation	135	(1)
7.2 Internet Usage	136	(16)
7.3 Summary and Implications	152	(1)
8. Clustering of Singaporeans	153	(20)
8.1 Dimensions of Singaporeans' Value Systems	153	(2)
8.2 Identification of Clusters	155	(6)
8.3 Lifestyle Activities of Clusters	161	(3)
8.3.1 Life satisfaction	161	(1)
8.3.2 Leisure activities	161	(3)
8.3.3 Internet and online shopping behavior	164	(1)
8.4 Comparison Between 1996 and 2001 Clusters	164	(8)
8.5 Summary and Implications	172	(1)
9. Successful Aging In Singapore	173	(22)
9.1 Introduction	173	(1)
9.2 "Successful Aging" and the Elderly in Singapore	173	(3)
9.3 Research Methodology	176	(1)
9.3.1 The sample for semi-structured interviews	176	(1)
9.4 Findings	176	(15)
9.4.1 Views about aging	178	(2)
9.4.2 Concerns about aging	180	(3)
9.4.3 Consumption of time and money: family, community, and health	183	(8)
9.5 Summary and Implications	191	(4)
9.5.1 Focusing on family values	191	(1)
9.5.2 Keeping healthy and connected	192	(1)
9.5.3 Moving from working life to retirement	193	(2)
10. Young Adult Singaporeans	195	(22)
10.1 Introduction	195	(1)
10.2 "The Young and the Restless"	196	(3)
10.2.1 VALS studies and related findings on young adults	196	(3)
10.3 Research Methodology	199	(1)
10.3.1 The sample for semi-structured interviews	199	(1)
10.4 Findings	199	(14)
10.4.1 Aspirations in life	201	(1)
10.4.2 Importance of personal values	202	(3)
10.4.3 Satisfaction with aspects of life in Singapore	205	(5)
10.4.4 Leisure and play	210	(1)
10.4.5 Working in Singapore	211	(1)
10.4.6 Stayers or strayers?	212	(1)
10.5 Summary and Implications	213	(4)
11. Conclusions	217	(20)
11.1 The Study	217	(1)
11.2 Synopsis of the Main Findings	218	(14)
11.2.1 Demographic profile of the respondents	218	(1)
11.2.2 Value orientations	219	(1)
11.2.3 Personal values	220	(1)
11.2.4 Aspirations (Things wanted most in life)	221	(1)
11.2.5 Life satisfaction	222	(1)
11.2.6 Satisfaction with life in Singapore	223	(1)
11.2.7 Media habits	224	(2)
11.2.8 Leisure activities	226	(4)
11.2.9 Internet usage and behavior	230	(2)
11.3 Clustering of Singaporeans	232	(1)
11.4 Qualitative Insights: Elderly Singaporeans	232	(1)
11.5 Qualitative Insights: Young Adult Singaporeans	233	(1)
11.6 Directions for Future Research	234	(3)
References	237	(4)
Index	241