In contrast, Singaporeans place less importance on accumulating wealth, the survey found. Values related to an entrepreneurial spirit. such as risk-taking and enterprise, also took a backseat.
The wide-ranging study, conducted as part of the Our Singapore Conversation (OSC) project, interviewed a representative survey of 4,000 Singaporeans from December last year to January.
In examining the values and attributes citizens felt were important, respondents rated 26 values on a scale of one to five — one being not very important, and five being very important. The relative importance of each value was then plotted on a “heat map”. The warmer a colour, such as dark red, the more important the value is. Conversely, the cooler a colour, such as dark blue, the less important a value is.
When comparing across the age groups, there was a consensus among respondents on values they felt were important, such as honesty, politeness and graciousness. But among the less important values, there was a bigger difference in views across the age groups.
“Singaporean youth seem to place greater emphasis on perseverance and self-reliance, compared to their older Singaporeans. The young also had a greater appetite for risk-taking, enjoying life to the fullest and being more entrepreneurial,” the survey found.
IPS research fellow Dr Leong Chan Hoong, one of the researchers involved in the study, noted that the “differences are actually not that stark and there’s actually quite a lot of shared agreement on some of the attributes”.
“I think that bodes well because at least there’s a common platform that everybody can sit on and to agree on what are the different actions to be taken for Singapore,” he said.
RESPONDENTS’ VIEWS ON GAY LIFESTYLES, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
When it comes to social values, the survey found that "society in general does not accept gay lifestyles", although the younger and more educated segments of the population were relatively more accepting. Overall, 47 per cent of respondents rejected gay lifestyles, while 26 per cent said they accepted gay lifestyles, The remaining 27 per cent did not have a preference.
“Society was even less supportive of same-sex marriage. The majority of respondents across almost all educational profiles rejected same-sex marriage,” the survey found. Overall, 55 per cent rejected same-sex marriage, compared to 21 per cent who accepted it. Twenty-four per cent were neutral.
There was, however, a split in the views on the issue of freedom of expression and censorship. No clear consensus could be reached on what is the right balance between complete freedom of expression versus preventing social tension.
Some 40 per cent of respondents supported limiting individual freedom of expression to prevent social tensions, while 37 per cent of respondents supported complete freedom of expression at the risk of social tensions. Thirty-nine per cent of respondents supported censoring media content to protect public interest, while 36 per cent did not support censorship at all.
Yet, older Singaporeans did seem to place more value in censorship as a means of protecting public interest, the survey found.
Faculty Associate at IPS Tan Ern Ser, another researcher involved in the study, said: “So under this kind of situation (where there’s diversity in views) I think there’s a need for a lot more dialogue, a lot more communication.” This, he said, could help reach “a consensus despite the diversity and potential polarisation”.
Respondents also had diverse views on the right balance between the Government providing for the people, and citizens providing for themselves. The majority of respondents above 50 and those who earned less than S$1,000 tended to favour the Government taking more responsibility.
While more Singaporeans preferred to keep taxes low, the more affluent Singaporeans (those living in private property or earning above S$7,000 a month) seemed more willing to pay higher taxes to support the needy. Support dipped slightly, however, for those earning S$10,000 or more a month.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT KEY CONCERN FOR LOW, MIDDLE INCOME GROUPS
Earlier in the month, a portion of the IPS survey findings were released in the OSC committee’s report, Reflections. The findings showed that public housing is the top concern for Singaporeans earning less than S$5,000 a month while the country’s healthcare infrastructure is what worries the higher income groups most.
In examining Singaporeans’ hopes and priorities, public transport also emerged as a key priority for those earning less than S$3,000 a month, while a holistic education was a greater priority fo those earning above S$7,000 a month.
Singaporeans valued good governance, with those earning less than S$7,000 placing greater emphasis on a caring Government, while those earning more prioritised having an honest Government.
When asked more specifically about different facets of governance, the IPS survey found that a “sizeable majority indicated that the Government was forward-looking and managing the country well”.
“There were relatively lower levels of agreement on whether the Government understands the concerns of the people or did a good job explaining policies,” the survey found.
Assoc Prof Tan said: “We hope that the survey, understood as a component of the OSC process, has given us a better appreciation of the range of views held by Singaporeans, including our own, and thereby work towards making Singapore an even better home, nation, and economy.”
The full report can be downloaded at https://www.oursgconversation.sg/survey/
Reading the data charts:
Percentages on the left (dark and light orange) represent strong and mild support for preferences indicated on the left; percentages on the right (dark and light blue) represent support for preferences indicated on the right. Dotted sections in the middle represent respondents who did not lean towards either preference.
