Study of quarantine and volunteerism in Singapore during a pandemic: A cross-cultural comparison of social responsibility between Singaporeans and Western Expatriates.

Abstract

This study compares 78 Singaporeans’ and 80 Western expatriates’ framing of social responsibility in relation to quarantine and volunteering during a pandemic. The overall results indicated that Singaporeans who keep quarantine frame their quarantine decision in the concept of social responsibility with an emphasis on benefits to their family over their personal and societal benefits whereas Western expatriates emphasized more on social welfare and family benefits over their personal benefits. Besides, Western expatriates were more willing to volunteer during a pandemic than Singaporeans. The findings did not fit well with the theoretical perspective of prominent cross-cultural paradigm of individualism collectivism (I-C). Hence, the paradox of social responsibility for I-C are explored and discussed in this study.