A note about insider case study research information source: for MBA students

A note about insider case study research information source: for MBA students (information from perplexity.ai)

My question: "On doing my MBA dissertation project which is an insider case study, I have a query on how to name the following information sources in my dissertation report:

1. My personal observation, as a middle manager in a retail firm office, on staff morale.

2. My personal evaluation opinion based on year long working experience in this retail firm.

3. My knowledge gained from reading the retail firm's human resource department's report..

I would also like to know the research ethics issues, including any requirement to gain the gatekeeper's informed consent."

The reply: "For your MBA dissertation insider case study, the naming of these information sources can be framed as follows:

1. Personal observation on staff morale can be called "insider observational data" or "personal observational insights" as it stems from your direct experience and witnessing in the retail firm office.

2. Your personal evaluation opinion based on a year-long work experience would be termed "insider experiential knowledge" or "reflexive evaluation" because it is a subjective interpretation grounded in lived experience within the firm.

3. Knowledge gained from reading the retail firm's human resource reports is "secondary documentary data" or "organizational document analysis," since this comes from formal company reports rather than direct participation.

Regarding research ethics, key issues involve respecting confidentiality, anonymity, and avoiding harm to participants or the organization. You typically must obtain informed consent from the "gatekeeper"—the person or authority controlling access to the organization (e.g., HR manager or department head). Gatekeeper consent ensures you have permission to conduct research within the firm and access its members and documents. It also protects organizational autonomy and participant privacy.

In summary:

• Name personal observations and opinions as insider observational data and reflexive evaluation respectively.

• Name firm reports as secondary documentary data or organizational document analysis.

• Obtain informed gatekeeper consent for organizational access and data collection to meet ethical research standards.

These practices help maintain transparency and ethical rigor in your insider case study dissertation."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.

A brief note on theoretical sampling and purposeful sampling: for Housing Studies students

A brief note on theoretical sampling and purposeful sampling: for Housing Studies students (information from perplexity.ai)

My question: "I am interested to conduct semi-structured interview to learn "the opinions of the Hong Kong generation z's on housing affordability". Then, I realize that I need to also consider which sampling method to use: theoretical sampling and purposeful sampling. Please clarify these 2 sampling terms to me in this context."

The reply: "Theoretical sampling and purposeful (also called purposive) sampling are both qualitative sampling methods but differ mainly in their approach and timing relative to data collection and analysis.

Purposeful sampling is a strategy where participants are deliberately selected based on specific characteristics or criteria relevant to the research question. The goal is to gain in-depth information from individuals who are most likely to provide rich insights on the topic, such as generation Z Hong Kong residents with opinions on housing affordability. It is a strategic, judgment-based choice meant to illuminate the phenomenon in detail rather than represent the whole population.​

Theoretical sampling, by contrast, is closely linked to grounded theory methodology. It involves selecting new participants or data sources based on evolving concepts and findings during the research process. Sampling decisions emerge as the theory develops, continuously refining and extending understanding rather than following a predetermined participant selection plan. This means sampling is adaptive and iterative, with cases chosen to explore and test emerging theoretical constructs.​

In your context of exploring Hong Kong generation Z's opinions on housing affordability via semi-structured interviews, purposeful sampling would mean selecting participants upfront who meet predefined criteria (e.g., age range, current housing situation). Theoretical sampling would involve adjusting your sample based on early interview insights, seeking participants who help develop or challenge emerging themes about housing affordability.

To summarize:

• Purposeful sampling is planned before data collection to select specific participants who can provide relevant insights.

• Theoretical sampling is guided by ongoing data analysis, iteratively selecting participants to refine emerging theory.

For a focused exploratory study on housing views of Hong Kong Gen Z, purposeful sampling is a practical starting method, while theoretical sampling might be applied if you are using a grounded theory approach and plan to adapt sampling as themes emerge from data."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.

An illustrative example of how to come up with an assignment 2 prototype: for Housing studies students

An illustrative example of how to come up with an assignment 2 prototype: for Housing studies students (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "Please suggest 1 concrete Housing studies research themes based on the following keywords: the subdivided flats in Hong Kong, livability, housing justice, housing policy of Hong Kong. The research theme formulation should be based on the research philosophy of pragmatism."

The reply: "A suitable pragmatist research theme is:

“Evaluating how recent Hong Kong housing policies on subdivided flats reshape livability and housing justice for low‑income tenants, and identifying policy adjustments that work in practice.”​

Focus and rationale

This theme links:

• Subdivided flats and livability: You can examine how new minimum standards (e.g. basic housing unit requirements such as size, ventilation, safety) change day‑to‑day living conditions, health, and perceived dignity of residents.​

• Housing justice: You can assess whether regulatory and rent‑related reforms (e.g. proposed regulation of SDUs, efforts to eliminate substandard units, and reforms to public rental housing incentives) lead to more equitable access to adequate housing for low‑income households.​

Under pragmatism, the study explicitly aims to:

• Combine qualitative evidence (tenants’ and landlords’ experiences of “what works” on the ground) with quantitative indicators (crowding, rent burden, health complaints, waiting time for PRH, etc.).​

• Produce actionable recommendations on how to fine‑tune Hong Kong’s SDU regulation and broader housing policy so that they both improve livability and advance housing justice in feasible, politically workable ways."

My question 2: "Please suggest a dissertation proposal title based on the research theme above, as well as 2 housing issues and 2 related research objectives. For each of the 2 housing issues, try to suggest 2 primary research methods (some design details should be offered), indicate how each of the research methods is related to which research objective, and comment on their strengths and weaknesses and mutual complementarity (including possibility of triangulation of research findings)."

The reply: "Dissertation Proposal Title

"Pragmatic Evaluation of Hong Kong's Subdivided Flats Policies: Enhancing Livability and Advancing Housing Justice for Low-Income Residents".​

Research Objectives

• Objective 1: Assess the impact of recent subdivided flats regulations on tenants' physical living conditions, including overcrowding, ventilation, and safety.​

• Objective 2: Evaluate policy enforcement gaps and their effects on equitable housing access, rent affordability, and justice for vulnerable households.​

Housing Issue 1: Substandard Physical Conditions

Overcrowding, poor ventilation, hygiene issues, and safety risks persist in subdivided flats, hindering livability despite minimum standards.​

Primary Research Methods

• Structured Environmental Surveys (linked to Objective 1): Survey 80-100 units in Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong using checklists for metrics like floor area (<8m²), window coverage, pest presence, and fire exits; include photos and 1-5 livability scores; analyze descriptively via Excel/SPSS.​

  • Strengths: Yields objective, standardized data for pre/post-policy comparisons. Weaknesses: Access barriers and static snapshots overlook daily variations.

• Semi-Structured Tenant Interviews (linked to Objective 1): Conduct 20 interviews (30-45 mins) with residents, probing health effects and adaptations; transcribe and theme via NVivo.​

  • Strengths: Uncovers nuanced experiences and policy perceptions. Weaknesses: Small sample risks bias and low generalizability.

Mutual Complementarity: Surveys provide quantifiable baselines (e.g., 60% units lacking ventilation) triangulated with interview narratives on health impacts, strengthening causal links to Objective 1 for reliable livability assessments.​

Housing Issue 2: Enforcement and Equity Gaps

Uneven regulation implementation and absent rent controls exacerbate rent burdens and waiting times, undermining housing justice.​

Primary Research Methods

• Tenant Questionnaires (linked to Objective 2): Distribute to 120-150 residents via NGOs, with Likert scales on rent-income ratio (>30%), policy awareness, and PRH wait times; use SPSS for regressions by demographics.​

  • Strengths: Enables statistical patterns across groups for equity measurement. Weaknesses: Self-report biases and response dropouts.

• Stakeholder Focus Groups (linked to Objective 2): Run 3 groups (6-8 participants each: policymakers, landlords, NGOs; 60 mins) discussing barriers like enforcement feasibility; record and code for themes.​

  • Strengths: Captures diverse implementation insights and pragmatic fixes. Weaknesses: Group dynamics may suppress dissent.

Mutual Complementarity: Questionnaires quantify inequities (e.g., correlated rent hikes with long waits), while focus groups explain mechanisms (e.g., enforcement shortfalls), triangulating for holistic evidence on Objective 2 and policy recommendations."

My question 3: "Suggest 3 relevant academic theories to use for studying the topic above and then offer 5 academic references and 5 non-academic references in Harvard reference format."

The reply: "Three Relevant Academic Theories

Pragmatism, as the guiding philosophy, supports practical, mixed-methods inquiry into subdivided flats by prioritizing what "works" in policy implementation for livability and justice.​

• Housing Justice Framework: Examines how policies address structural inequalities in access to safe, affordable housing, linking subdivided flats' conditions to broader social inequities.​

• Livability Theory: Assesses urban living quality through dimensions like density, amenities, and health, applied to evaluate subdivided flats' habitability post-regulation.​

• Policy Implementation Theory (Top-Down/Bottom-Up): Analyzes enforcement gaps by comparing intended policy designs with street-level outcomes, revealing barriers to equity in Hong Kong's context.​

Academic References

• Forrant, R. and Silka, L. (2017) Inside Smart Cities: Urban Planning, Design and Governance. London: Routledge.​

• Hoolachan, A. and McKee, K. (2019) 'Housing justice: A sociological critique of the right to buy and right to rent', Housing Studies, 34(8), pp. 1285-1303.​

• Wong, M.B. (2022) The Solution to Hong Kong's Subdivided Housing Crisis. Hong Kong: Independent Report.​

• Yau, Y. (2011) 'Multistakeholder participation in urban redevelopment projects', Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 26(4), pp. 455-470.​

• Zhang, X. and Wan, Y. (2023) 'Social impact assessment of transitional social housing', Sustainability, 15(5), p. 4123.​

Non-Academic References

• Hong Kong Government (2024) LCQ16: Tackling the issue of subdivided units. Available at: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202404/10/P2024041000259.htm (Accessed: 29 November 2025).​

• Housing Bureau (2022) Tackling the Issue of Subdivided Units - Basic Housing Units. Available at: https://www.hb.gov.hk/eng/policy/housing/policy/tenancy_control/index.html (Accessed: 29 November 2025).​

• Legislative Council (2013) Report on Survey on Subdivided Units in Hong Kong. Available at: https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr12-13/english/panels/hg/hg_lths/papers/hg_lths0626cb1-1371-3-e.pdf (Accessed: 29 November 2025).​

• News.gov.hk (2024) Subdivided flats policy explained. Available at: https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2024/10/20241016/20241016_172717_594.html (Accessed: 29 November 2025).​

• Our HK Foundation (2024) A closer look into the subdivided flat issues. Available at: https://ourhkfoundation.org.hk/en/media/commentaries/ (Accessed: 29 November 2025)."

** using an assignment prototype enables students to (1) study the subject reflectively and critically, as well as (2) develop their their own proposal with their own voices with a stronger sense of direction.

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.