“Looking Beyond the Surface” - Narrating Fieldwork Experiences from a National Longitudinal Study on Youth Offenders and the Community

Presenters:
Dr Priscilla Koh, Research Specialist, MSF
Ms Buvanisha Sagadevan, Research Assistant, SSR
Ms Grace Caines, Research Assistant, SSR

Time: 3:30pm to 5:30pm

Venue: FASS Research Division Seminar Room AS7 06-42
Address: Shaw Foundation Building AS7, 5 Arts Link, Singapore 117570

Abstract:
Enhancing Positive Outcomes in Youth and the Community (EPYC) study is a national longitudinal study that focuses on the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth offenders in Singapore. The study examines the interaction between developmental and environmental factors in relation to offending behaviour among youth. The goal of the study is to better understand how these factors may impact on the successful rehabilitation and reintegration of these youths into society. In this seminar series, we will discuss the different aspects of our data collection strategies and fieldwork experiences with a segment of society that is often either overlooked or not well understood.

Presenters' profile:

Priscilla Koh is a research specialist at the Ministry of Social and Family Development examining issues of rehabilitation and protection. Her research includes longitudinal studies to do with the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth offenders in Singapore, and improving the staff capability and retention rate of Child Protection Services. An anthropologist and historian by training, Priscilla is interested in understanding human motivation, and issues related to belonging and identity.

Buvanisha Sagadevan graduated from James Cook University Singapore with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (Honours) in 2016. Previously, she was a research assistant for the Singapore Kindergarten Impact Project (SKIP) by NIE, administering tests to kindergarten children across schools in Singapore. With her keen interest in working with youths as well as forensic psychology, Nisha is now involved with Enhancing Positive Outcomes in Youth Offenders and the Community (EPYC) research project. Headed by the Social Science Research (SSR) and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), this study aims to investigate risk and protective factors of juvenile offenders.

Grace Caines graduated from the NUS with a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours), majoring in Psychology. As an undergraduate, she interned with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) as well as the National Council of Social Services (NCSS), assisting with research pertaining to the Children, Adolescent Needs, and Services (CANS) assessment tool. Her main research interests involve offender rehabilitation and criminal behaviour. Currently, she is involved in Enhancing Positive Outcomes in Youth Offenders and the Community (EPYC) research project.