Dr Teo Kay Key is Research Fellow at IPS Social Lab at the Institute of Policy Studies. She has a PhD in Political Science from the National University of Singapore. Her research interests are in political and social attitudes, public opinion, voting behavior, and Singapore society. She is interested in examining these topics using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. Her current projects examine a myriad of issues in Singapore, including attitudes towards the family, social norms and values, and national identity. 

Prior to joining IPS, she worked in the civil service for nearly 3 years doing strategic planning, training, and policy work.

She also has a Masters in Political Behaviour from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom and a Bachelors in Social Science from the Singapore Management University.
Research Interests
Public opinion, social attitudes, political attitudes, voting behavior, nation building, national identity

Publications

• Mathew, M., Teo, K. K., Tay, M. and Poh, R. (2025). Faultlines in Singapore: Perceptions and Management with a Focus on Race and Religion. IPS Working Papers No. 60.
• Mathew, M., Teo, K. K., Poh, R. and Tay, M. (2025). Results from the IPS-OnePeople.sg Indicators of Racial and Religious Harmony 2024. IPS Working Papers No. 59.
• Teo, K. K., Tan, E. S., and Wang, Z. (2024). Regime Support in Singapore: From Enigma to ‘New Normal’. Asian Journal of Political Science, 1-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/02185377.2024.2416132
• Teo, K. K., Mathew, M. and Nah, S. (2024). Not Quite Impulsive Spenders: Key Findings from the IPS-CNA Survey on Financing Behaviours among Younger Singaporeans. IPS Working Papers No. 55.
• Teo, K. K., Tan E. S., and Koh, G. (2023). Singapore: An Outlier? In, Chu, Y. H., Chung, Y. T., Huang, M. H., and Huang, K. P. (eds.), How Asians View Democratic Legitimacy. Taipei: Taiwan National University Press (pp. 348-360).
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Teo, K. K., Lim, H. and Chong, M. (2023). The Cost of Eating Out: Findings from the Makan Index 2.0. IPS Exchange Series No. 24.
Teo, K. K. and Yap, J. H. (2023). Fearing the Foreign: Dissecting Dicey Discourses of Local Emotional Responses towards Immigrants. In Mathew, M. and Tay, M. (Eds.), Immigrant Integration in Contemporary Singapore: Solutioning amidst challenges (pp. 97-126). https://doi.org/10.1142/13176
Teo, K. K. and Wang, A. (2023). Birthplace and Belonging: Negotiating Local-Born and China-Born Chinese Identities in Immigrant Integration. In Mathew, M. and Tay, M. (Eds.), Immigrant Integration in Contemporary Singapore: Solutioning amidst challenges (pp. 155-184). https://doi.org/10.1142/13176
Osterberg-Kaufmann, N. & Teo, K. K. (2022). Uncoupling Conceptual Understandings and Political Preferences: A study of Democratic Attitudes among Singapore’s Highly Educated Young People. Pacific Affairs, 95(3), 497-526. https://doi.org/10.5509/2022953497
Lee, T. C. & Teo, K. K. (2022). A Refined Model of Contingent Consent. In Chung, K. and Cho W. (Eds.), New Democracy and Autocratization in Asia (pp 155-183). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003271055
Mathew, M., Teo, K. K. and Nah, S. (2022). Attitudes, Actions and Aspirations: Key Findings from the CNA-IPS Survey on Race Relations 2021. IPS Exchange Series No. 22.
Mathew, M., Teo, K. K., Tay, M. & Wang, A. (2021). Lived Experiences in Singapore: Key Findings  from the World Value Survey. IPS Exchange Series No. 18.
Mathew, M., Teo, K. K., Tay, M. & Wang, A. (2021). Attitudes towards Institutions, Politics, and Policies: Key Findings from the World Values Survey. IPS Exchange Series No. 17.
Mathew, M., Teo, K. K., Tay, M. & Wang, A. (2021). Our Singaporean Values: Key Findings from the World Values Survey. IPS Exchange Series No. 16.
Mathew, M., Tay, M., & Teo, K. K. (2020). Integral: A Report on Social Integration in Singapore for the 10th Anniversary of the NIC. National Integration Council and Institute of Policy Studies.
Mathew, M., Mohammed, K. B., & Teo, K. K. (2014). Religiosity and the management of religious harmony: Responses from the IPS survey on race, religion and language. IPS Working Papers No.21.

Op-eds/Commentaries

• Teo, K.K. (2025, May 7). Commentary: In GE2025, the political voice of Singaporeans under 45 was louder and clearer. CNA.
• Teo, K.K. (2025, Mar 14). Commentary: Will new electoral boundaries affect voting patterns in GE2025?. CNA.
• Teo, K.K. (2025, 25 Feb). 张家绮：我们是否已达致种族和谐？. 联合早报.
• Teo, K.K. (2024, 4 Jul). Will the social media battle sway voters in S’pore?. The Straits Times.
• Teo, K.K. (2024, 17 May). Commentary: What Singaporeans may hope for from PM Lawrence Wong. CNA.
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Teo, K.K. (2023, Oct 31). Becoming proficient in English has come at a cost for many Singaporeans. The Straits Times.
Teo, K.K. (2023, Sep 7). Commentary: Why are voters interested in the pets of Singapore’s presidential candidates?. CNA.
Teo, K.K. (2023, Jun 14). 张家绮：语言测试真能帮新移民融入吗？. 联合早报.
Teo, K.K., Lim, H. and Chong, M. (2023, Mar 28). Commentary: Rising prices of hawker meals offer food for thought over deeper underlying issues. TODAY.
Teo, K.K. (2022, May 4). A letter to fellow Chinese Singaporeans: Let us play our part for racial harmony. IPS Commons.
Teo, K.K. (2022, May 2). 张家绮：努力为种族和谐出一分力. 联合早报.
Teo, K.K. & Pereira, S.N. (2021, Nov 17). Understanding how Singapore’s youth feel about race and religion. TODAY.
Teo, K.K. (2021, Jun 21). 张家绮：种族歧视： 多数族群须检讨无心之过. 联合早报.
Teo, K.K. (2021, Apr 7). Are Singaporeans really politically apathetic?. TODAY.
Teo, K.K. (2021, Feb 15). 张家绮：何谓代沟？. 联合早报.
Teo, K.K. & Tan, E.S.. (2020, July 29). The NCMP scheme: still relevant? IPS Commons.
Teo, K.K. & Tan, E.S.. (2020, July 6). The NCMP scheme: keep it or dump it?. IPS Commons.
Mathew, M., & Teo, K.K.. (2020, Apr 9). Social trust vital in helping Singaporeans tide through Covid-19. TODAY.
Mathew, M., & Teo, K.K.. (2019, Sep 5). What's next for pro-parenthood measures? Focus on work culture. The Straits Times.

Conference Participation and Presentations/Speeches

• Uniform Narratives: English Language Texts for Singapore in 2010 and 2015, Making Identity Count in Asia Conference 10-11 January 2019
• Shared Pride, Divergent Aspirations: Chinese Language Texts for Singapore in 2010 and 2015, Making Identity Count in Asia Conference, 10-11 January 2019
• Satisficing Voters: Explaining Durable One-Party-Dominant Rule in Singapore, Post-Democratizing Politics in East Asia, Humboldt University, 12-13 March 2019