FOREIGN TALENT IN SINGAPORE : STUDIES OF SINGAPOREANS' ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS

Abstract

Foreign Talent in Singapore: Studies of Singaporeans' Attitudes and Perceptions. This thesis studies Singaporeans' attitudes and perceptions of foreign talent (overseas workers equipped with job skills that are demanded in Singapore) from 2 perspectives: the characteristics of respondents and those of foreign talent. The first study hypothesized that low self-esteem, high collective self-esteem, and job insecurity will predict negative attitudes towards foreign talent. Regression analysis revealed that only self-esteem and the identity component of collective self-esteem significantly predicted attitudes towards foreign talent. A second study examined perceptions of foreign talent as a function of ethnicity similarity/differences (Mainland Chinese/ American), demand for occupational skills (high/low), and length of stay in Singapore (short/long). Results of 2x2x2 between subject analysis of variance indicated a strong ethnicity effect in favour of American stimulus persons. Interactions between demand for skills and length of stay revealed that when the duration of stay is short, foreign talent equipped with occupational skills that are in demand were perceived more positively than those who are equipped with skills that are in adequate supply. In addition, when the skills that foreign talent are equipped with are in adequate supply, those who have resided in Singapore for a longer period of time were viewed more positively than those who have resided in Singapore for a shorter period of time.