Current Research Projects


​Tech use by pre-schoolers

This study focuses on screentime of preschoolers in Singapore. Together with Dr Andrew Yee of Singapore University of Technology and Design (PI) and Dr Nie Youyan of the National Institute of Education,  our study seeks to:
  • Understand what constitutes high- versus low-quality media consumption among children aged 2-5 
  • Understand how and why young Singaporean children between the ages of 2-5 use digital media
  • Develop a psychometrically validated parent-report quality of media use questionnaire for researchers


​The parenting panopticon?

With China embracing digital technology in all aspects of daily life, and Chinese parents investing heavily in their children's academic performance, it is little wonder that technology features significantly in Chinese parenting practices. Together with Dr Iris Wang Yang, we conducted research with parents in Hangzhou and Beijing, probing into their use of technology during the Covid-19 lockdown. We are currently writing a book to capture all the findings. Watch this space!   
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Photo credit: Irwan @tweetbyirwan, Unsplash 

Future of work

This study investigates technology disruption in the workplace and the emergent issues. Spanning Humanities, Social Sciences and Engineering, the project brings together an interdisciplinary team of ten researchers to investigate how digital disruption might impact and change Singapore’s economy and society in key industry sectors, in order to provide actionable recommendations for public policy-making and organisations to enhance the resilience of their workers in the face of digital disruption. It was supported by a $2.1 m Social Science Research Council grant. Work is ongoing on analysing and publishing the findings from this study. 

Research Grant Funding

2021-2024
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​2018-2021
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2017-2020
NIE Office of Education Research Education Research Funding Programme
Social Science Research Council

Social Science Research Council
​
$244,000
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​$2,100,000
​
$8,500,000 ​
​Assessing and measuring the quality of screen time for Singaporean preschoolers: A mixed-method study (Co-Principal Investigator)
Tackling digital disruption: Industry transformations and workforce resilience (Principal Investigator)
Building Human Capacity in Singapore’s Population: Testing Innovations in Human Development (Co-Principal Investigator)
2015-2017
Media Development Authority 
$99,701
Excessive Smartphone Use: Effects of Parenting Style, Impact on Parent-adolescent Relationship and Academic Performance among Singaporean Adolescents (Principal Investigator)
2015-2017
NUS Centre for Family and Population Research 
$9,462.50
Tablet use of pre-schoolers: Family dynamics, parenting practices and mediation strategies (Principal Investigator)
2014-2015
Korean National Research Foundation Joint Research Program
$72,920.65
Vietnamese Marriage Migrants' use of Mediated Communication to Negotiate Stigma and Social Capital: A Cross-Cultural Comparison with Vietnamese Marriage Migrants in Singapore (Co-Principal Investigator)
2010-2013
Ministry of Family Services Family Research Fund
$100,000
​Parental Perceptions and Mediation of Computer Gaming in Singapore (Principal Investigator)
2010-2011
Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund Tier 1
$15,510
Workshop on “The Smartphone in Asia: Its Impact and Development Trajectory in a Hyperconnected Region” (Principal Convenor)
2010-2011
FASS Staff Research Support Scheme 
$8,000
The use of media and technology
by Singaporean juvenile offenders and at-risk youths (Principal Investigator) 
2009 -2010
Asia-Europe Foundation
$25,000
Workshop on “Youths and New Media in Asia and Europe” (Principal Convenor) 
2006-2008
ASEAN Universities Network Korean Association of Southeast Asian Studies
$8,000
Domestication of ICTs by middle-class families in South Korea (Principal Investigator) 
2006-2007
Intellectual Property Academy of Singapore
$100,000
New media piracy and perceptions of intellectual property  (Principal Investigator)
2003-2006
National University of Singapore 
$80,000
Consumers' online privacy perceptions (Co-Principal Investigator) 
2003-2006
National University of Singapore 
$10,000
Domestication of ICTs by middle-class families in China (Principal Investigator)