The major dissertation project topics (e.g. research gaps, research objectives, research questions, etc.) and their locations under the agile literature review approach (the academic oriented type) view. The diagram is relevant to both the MBA and Housing Studies students' dissertation project works.
My question 1 to perplexity: "In the context of Housing Studies dissertation projects, please briefly describe the following terms:
1. Research gaps2. Public media-reported issues
3. Specific client(s)’ concerns
4. Research issues
5. Researcher positionality
6. Research objectives
7. Research questions
8. Academic, practical and originality values
9. Research methodology and its sub-topics
10. Strengths and weaknesses of a research methodology
11. Academic ideas and theories
12. Strengths and weaknesses of a research method
13. Research project constraints"
The reply: "
Research gaps
Areas that existing housing literature or policy reports have not yet covered well enough, such as neglected populations, places, time periods, variables, or methods. They justify why the dissertation is needed by showing what remains unknown or under‐explored.Public media-reported issues
Housing problems or debates that appear in newspapers, TV, online news, or social media, for example rising rents, homelessness, or redevelopment controversies. They often highlight socially salient topics that can be turned into researchable housing questions.Specific client(s)’ concerns
Practical housing problems raised by a commissioning body such as a government department, NGO, housing authority, or private firm. These concerns shape the focus, scope, and applied relevance of the dissertation if it is done for or with a real client.Research issues
The core housing problems or puzzles that the study aims to investigate, usually linking observed problems (from literature, media, or practice) with conceptual and empirical questions. They frame the overall direction of the inquiry and delimit what will and will not be studied.Researcher positionality
The researcher’s own social background, professional role, values, and relationships to the field (e.g. tenant, planner, social worker) and how these may shape topic choice, access, interpretation, and power relations in Housing Studies. Reflexive discussion of positionality increases transparency and ethical awareness.Research objectives
Concise statements of what the study intends to achieve, such as “to examine”, “to compare”, or “to evaluate” particular housing policies, experiences, or outcomes. They translate research issues into achievable high‑level and more detailed tasks for the dissertation.Research questions
Specific, answerable questions that guide data collection and analysis, derived from the objectives, such as “How does X affect Y among Z households?”. They operationalise the aims into empirical inquiries that can be addressed within the project’s scope.Academic, practical and originality values
Academic value: how the study contributes to theories, concepts, or evidence in Housing Studies or related disciplines.
Practical value: how findings can inform housing policy, planning, management, or advocacy in real-world settings.
Originality value: what is genuinely new about the topic, data, angle, or method compared with existing work.
Research methodology and its sub-topics
The overall logic and design of the study (e.g. qualitative case study, quantitative survey, mixed methods) and the rationale for choosing it. Sub‑topics typically include research design, sampling, data collection methods, data analysis strategies, validity/rigour, and ethical considerations.Strengths and weaknesses of a research methodology
A critical appraisal of what a chosen overall design can do well and what it cannot, given the housing topic. For example, a qualitative case study may give rich contextual understanding but limited generalisability, while a large survey supports statistical inference but may miss deep meanings.Academic ideas and theories
Conceptual frameworks and theoretical perspectives used to interpret housing phenomena, such as affordability theory, gentrification, social exclusion, or critical realism. They help structure explanations, connect findings to wider debates, and justify why certain variables and relationships are studied.Strengths and weaknesses of a research method
Evaluation of specific tools for data collection or analysis (e.g. semi‑structured interviews, questionnaires, secondary data analysis, regression modelling) rather than the whole design. Each method’s advantages (e.g. depth, standardisation) and limitations (e.g. bias, measurement error) are assessed in relation to the research questions.Research project constraints
Practical limits that shape what is feasible in the dissertation, including time, budget, data access, sample size, ethics approval, skills, and institutional requirements. These constraints influence the scope, methodology choices, and how ambitious the objectives and questions can realistically be.."
2. Public media-reported issues
3. Specific client(s)’ concerns
4. Research issues
5. Researcher positionality
6. Research objectives
7. Research questions
8. Academic, practical and originality values
9. Research methodology and its sub-topics
10. Strengths and weaknesses of a research methodology
11. Academic ideas and theories
12. Strengths and weaknesses of a research method
13. Research project constraints"
1–4: Topic and problem focus
Research gaps
Missing or underdeveloped areas in the existing business and management literature, such as untested relationships, under‑studied industries, or outdated evidence. They justify why the MBA project is needed and how it adds to prior studies.Public media-reported issues
Business, economic or management problems highlighted in news and trade media, such as corporate scandals, disruptive technologies, or labour disputes. They often provide timely, real‑world triggers for selecting and justifying an MBA topic.Specific client(s)’ concerns
Concrete problems or decision needs expressed by a sponsoring organisation (e.g. a firm, NGO, or government unit), such as declining customer retention or rising logistics costs. They link the dissertation to a live managerial context and define its practical focus.Research issues
The core management problems or puzzles the study will investigate, connecting practice issues and literature gaps (e.g. “why loyalty programmes are not increasing repeat purchases in firm X”). They frame the scope and boundaries of the project.
5–8: Position, aims and value
Researcher positionality
The researcher’s role and standpoint in relation to the organisation and topic (e.g. internal manager, external consultant, customer), and how this may affect access, power dynamics, interpretation and bias. Reflecting on positionality shows awareness of ethical and practical implications.Research objectives
Clear statements of what the study intends to achieve, usually starting with verbs like “to examine”, “to evaluate”, “to compare”, or “to develop” in relation to a defined business problem. They translate broad issues into concrete, achievable project aims.Research questions
Specific, answerable questions derived from the objectives (e.g. “How does salesforce incentive structure affect cross‑selling in company Y?”). They guide data collection and analysis and must be feasible within the MBA project constraints.Academic, practical and originality values
Academic value: how the study contributes to management theories, models or empirical evidence.
Practical value: how findings can inform managerial decisions, strategies or policies for the focal organisation or sector.
Originality value: what is genuinely new in topic, context, data, angle or method (e.g. new market, new combination of variables, new framework application).
9–12: Methodology and methods
Research methodology and its sub-topics
The overall research design and logic (e.g. qualitative case study, quantitative survey, mixed‑methods evaluation) and why it fits the objectives. Sub‑topics typically include: research paradigm or philosophy, design (e.g. cross‑sectional, longitudinal, case study), sampling strategy, data collection methods, data analysis techniques, validity/rigour and ethics.Strengths and weaknesses of a research methodology
A critical assessment of what the chosen overall design can and cannot do for this MBA topic. For example, a single‑case study allows rich organisational insight but limits generalisation; a large survey supports statistical testing but may miss contextual depth.Academic ideas and theories
Concepts and theoretical frameworks from business and management (e.g. resource‑based view, stakeholder theory, technology acceptance model, service quality models) used to explain and predict phenomena. They structure the conceptual framework, inform variable selection, and shape interpretation of findings.Strengths and weaknesses of a research method
Evaluation of specific tools or techniques used to collect or analyse data (e.g. online questionnaires, semi‑structured interviews, financial ratio analysis, regression, thematic analysis). Each method’s advantages (e.g. standardisation, depth, numerical precision) and limitations (e.g. self‑report bias, small samples, measurement error) are considered against the research questions.
13: Feasibility and limits
Research project constraints
Practical limits that shape what is feasible in an MBA dissertation, such as time, word count, data access, confidentiality, organisational politics, budget, analytic skills, and ethical approval. These constraints influence the scale of the project, choice of methodology and methods, and how ambitious the objectives and questions can be."
It is important for the students to know where these project topics are located in the agile literature review approach (ALRA) view, as their locations serve to indicate which project topics inform which project topics and where the prime locations of their discussion are in the dissertation report (e.g. which dissertation report chapter).
