The Qualitative Side of "Dreams"

This paper aims to share the qualitative aspect of DREAMS - DRivers, Enablers, and pathways of Adolescent developMent in Singapore, a mixed-method longitudinal research project that explores different aspects of youth (n=8000 from 28 schools) as they progress from secondary school. Various aspects of development will be explored ranging from career aspirations, academic efficacy, psychological well-being to peer networks. While the primary mode of data collection is through surveys, in late 2024/2025, the project will begin interviewing about 200, Secondary 2 students (15-year-olds) across 28 schools to better understand their lived experience as they transitioned from primary to secondary school as well as their career aspirations and future orientations. This presentation will share the analysis of such data and seek to explore the challenges and interactions that youths in Singapore encounter in schools, with their peers and teachers as well as beyond schools, in their families and communities. As students from different socio-economic backgrounds and academic ability will be interviewed, we are curious about the similarity and differences in experiences as they progress through lower secondary school. Singapore also has an educational system that is high performing and fast changing as it responds to the demands of the 21st CC and this study allows us to understand how students encounter this system and adjust to their own expectations, and those of significant adults around them.

This is the first large scale study of this kind in Singapore and we would like to share and learn from other researchers who are interested in similar issues, albeit in different contexts. For furtehr information about our longitudinal cohort study, please go to this link - DREAMS – DRivers, Enablers, and pathways of Adolescent developMent in Singapore (nie.edu.sg).