Sentiment and Behavioural Research
Discover how Sentiment and Behavioural Research informs our strategies and decisions.
Last updated 9 May 2025
MDDI conducts Sentiment and Behavioural Research (SBR) to support data-driven communications, policy thinking and implementation of key issues across Whole of Government.
What is Sentiment and Behavioural Research (SBR)?
Sentiment and Behavioural Research (SBR) refers to quantitative, qualitative and/or behavioural insights research that seek to understand how people feel about issues, current affairs and policies.
Our research is structured around key focal areas ranging from social, economic, security, infrastructure, to communications- and media-related issues.
How does MDDI conduct Sentiment and Behavioural Research (SBR)?
MDDI uses a wide range of evidence-based research methods to better understand public sentiment, attitudes and behaviour through a data-driven approach. These research insights help the Government better assess public awareness of, and response to, specific government policies and programmes.
We are method-neutral in conducting our research, employing a range of tools including:
Surveys (e.g. door-to-door, telephone, online)
Focus group discussions
Behavioural insights
Media consumption analytics
What are some of MDDI's findings from Sentiment and Behavioural Research (SBR)?
Some examples of research that MDDI have done include:
Understanding Singapore Residents’ Overall Quality of Life Post- Pandemic
Comparing Quality of Life Now Compared to Pre-COVID
Most (72%) Singapore residents felt that their overall quality of life was the same or better in 2023, compared to 2019 (pre-pandemic).
69% Singapore residents rated their overall quality of their lives as “Good” or “Very Good”.
Even among those (28%) who felt that their overall quality of life was worse compared to before the pandemic, when asked to rate 10 aspects of their current lives, at least 6 in 10 rated them same or higher. This is suggestive of a general recovery.
Vulnerable Segments
A higher proportion of youths aged 15 to 19 years reported a drop in their quality of life (38% for youths vs. 28% for the general population), as well as their ability to manage their mental health (37% for youths vs. 28% for the general population), compared to before the pandemic.
This suggests that the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on social activities was more keenly felt by the young, especially teenagers.
Click here for the press release on the poll findings about Quality of Life post-pandemic.
Understanding Singaporeans’ Digital Readiness
Most agreed that technology made their lives better, but fewer were keen to try out new technologies.
84% agreed that digital technologies made their lives easier.
This was so even among seniors aged 70 years old and above, where a majority (62%) of them agreed that digital technologies made their lives easier.
However, only 65% were keen to try out new digital technologies.
A Growing Digital Proficiency
Overall, 68% had basic or higher than basic or higher than basic digital proficiency, from 59% in 2020.
For seniors in their 70s and above, the biggest improvement was from the low to developing proficiency.
29% of seniors in their 70s and above had developing proficiency in 2022, compared to 7% in 2020.
Meanwhile, the proportion of seniors 70s and above with low proficiency dropped from 80% in 2020, to about 54% of seniors in in 2022.
While seniors saw a more modest improvement, the direction and development are encouraging signs of progress made in this area.