Nigel Gray, a summer 2024 LMSAI grant recipient.

Nigel Gray, a doctoral student in the Harvard Graduate School of Education, spent this past summer working in Sri Lanka on a research project, “Finding Purpose: Gender & Sociocultural Influences on Sri Lankan Adolescent Educational Aspirations.” Funded by a Mittal Institute Summer Research Grant, Nigel’s project took him to Negombo to explore how socio-cultural, economic, and gender dynamics influence Sri Lankan adolescents’ educational aspirations. His study examines the role of parental practices and peer relationships in shaping youth’s purpose-driven decisions, to provide deeper insights into gender-specific dynamics in educational decision-making and motivations amongst Sri Lankan youth. He shares his experience in the account below.

Harvard students can apply for funding to explore South Asia during the upcoming winter term. Funding is available for internships, language studies, and research. Applications are due by October 11, 2024.

This summer, thanks to the support of the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, I conducted a preliminary study to understand how cultural and gender dynamics influence the educational aspirations of Sri Lankan adolescents. Building on my previous research with U.S. students, I wanted to see how these patterns played out in Sri Lanka, where strong family ties and social norms shape much of young people’s lives. The core of my project was to explore how students, especially across different genders, make decisions about their education and career paths—and how their sense of purpose fits into these decisions.

In particular, my research questions approaching this study were as follows;

• How do socio-cultural and economic factors in Sri Lanka influence adolescents’ sense of purpose and decision-making processes regarding tertiary education?
• How do gender norms in Sri Lanka shape the educational and career aspirations of male and female adolescents, particularly in their development of a sense of purpose?
• How do parental practices and peer relationships in Sri Lanka differentially impact the engagement in and pursuit of a sense of purpose among adolescents, and how do these influences vary by gender?

Using a combination of surveys and focus group discussions, I hoped to capture both the broad trends and personal stories behind these choices. By examining the role of gender, I aimed to contribute to the growing conversation around purpose-driven education and provide insights that could help shape educational strategies in Sri Lanka and the broader South Asian region.

Nigel Gray explored Negombo, Kandy, Galle, and Jaffna in Sri Lanka.

Research Activities

During my time in Sri Lanka, I worked with a school that had a diverse group of students in terms of gender, socioeconomic backgrounds, and ethnicities. The project unfolded in two main phases: first, a survey for students in grades 8-12, and then a series of focus group discussions. The survey was designed to gather insights on students’ motivations for learning, their goals for the future, and how their families and peers influence their decisions about education. Additionally, I wanted to understand how they perceive their purpose in life and how that connects to their educational journey.

Following over 200 responses on the survey, I led four focus group discussions with smaller groups of students. These conversations with 40 students gave me a chance to dive deeper into their personal experiences—what influences their decisions, what challenges they face, and how they see their future. Each discussion lasted between 45-60 minutes, and I ensured to include students from different backgrounds to get a fuller picture of their experiences.

Throughout the project, we ensured that students felt comfortable and safe sharing their thoughts, respecting their privacy, and using passive parental consent to allow for more inclusive participation.

Outcomes and Impact

I am currently analyzing the data collected from the surveys and focus groups. This analysis is providing valuable insights into how Sri Lankan adolescents make educational decisions and how gender and cultural influences shape these choices. I strongly anticipate that my findings will contribute to a better understanding of the role of purpose in adolescent development, particularly in cross-cultural contexts. I plan to submit a proposal based on these findings to the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) conference next year, which will provide an opportunity to present the results to a wider academic audience and receive feedback.

By shedding light on the unique socio-cultural factors influencing students’ aspirations, this work could help inform strategies to better support adolescents in making purpose-driven educational choices.

Beyond contributing to academic discussions, the insights from this research have potential applications in educational policy and practice in Sri Lanka. By shedding light on the unique socio-cultural factors influencing students’ aspirations, this work could help inform strategies to better support adolescents in making purpose-driven educational choices. Given that Sri Lanka is a severely under-researched context, the findings could provide new perspectives that are valuable for both scholars and practitioners working in similar cultural settings.

Future Directions

Looking ahead, I plan to submit my findings to the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) conference next year to share the insights gained from this study with a wider academic audience. Presenting at SRCD will allow me to gather feedback that can further refine the research. Additionally, I intend to revise the survey and focus group questions based on this year’s findings and reflections. The strong engagement from students highlighted areas where the questions resonated well, while my reflections on timing and coordination will help me address some of the logistical challenges I faced. I plan to deploy a revised version of the study on a larger scale next year, ensuring better timing to avoid exam periods and improving communication strategies with school partners to facilitate smoother data collection. These improvements will help strengthen the study and expand its impact, ultimately providing a more comprehensive understanding of how socio-cultural and gender dynamics influence educational aspirations among adolescents in Sri Lanka.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute for their generous support of this research. I am also immensely thankful to my advisor for their invaluable guidance throughout this project. Special thanks go to the school administration and teachers for their collaboration, and to the students who participated for their enthusiasm and willingness to share their insights. This study would not have been possible without their contributions.

☆ The views represented herein are those of the interview subject and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Mittal Institute, its staff, or its steering committee.