A note on theories and housing research

 A compiled note that draws on Aalbers, M.B. (2018) What kind of theory for what kind of housing research? Housing, Theory and Society 35.2: 193-198:

A: About theories

Point 1: "For some positivists it is a mathematical model, for others it is simply a generalized outcome of previous research";

Point 2: "Social scientists like Clapham and Ruonavaara, .... define theory as “collections of concepts about the real world that facilitate explaining, predicting or intervening” (Clapham); and social theory as “a discourse that consists of a set of linked (a) concepts and (b) propositions to be used for hypothetical (i) re-description, (ii) explanation and (iii) interpretation of all or some subset of social entities, relations and processes” (Ruonavaara, my emphasis)";

B: About housing studies and research

Point 3: " housing studies as radically open to different conceptualisations of the house, of home, of housing, of housing policy and of theories on housing. I believe contributions from any discipline can potentially enrich housing studies";

Point 4: "different disciplinary perspectives contribute to housing studies and sometimes this leads to interpretations and understandings that build on insights from multiple disciplines";

Point 5: "housing research and theory is not only there to influence policy, it is also there to influence other social scientists";

Source: "What kind of theory for what kind of housing research?"