Joseph KK Ho e-resources: A study to uncover the academic literature review tree of an academic article (Housing Policy): for Housing Studies students

A study to uncover the academic literature review tree of an academic article (Housing Policy): for Housing Studies students (information from chatpdf.com)

The reference of the article: The role of landlords in shaping private renters’ uneven experiences of home: towards a relational approach.

My question 1: "What are the research objectives of the study?"

The reply: "The research objectives of the study are centered on understanding how landlord behaviors influence the wellbeing of private renters and their experiences within the sector. Specifically, the study aims to:

Explore how landlord-tenant social relationships shape renters' experiences of renting, emphasizing the informal codes, judgments, and discretion involved in these interactions.
Investigate how these relationships impact tenants’ ability to make their rented properties feel like home and their overall wellbeing.
Examine the variability and unevenness in renters’ experiences based on their individual interactions with landlords.
Contribute to existing literature by highlighting the micro-level, social relational dynamics in private renting, thereby moving beyond purely macroeconomic or contractual analyses.

These objectives serve to deepen understanding of the nuanced and relational factors at play in the private rental sector, emphasizing the importance of social relations alongside formal contractual rights."

My question 2: "Indicate, for each of the research objectives, 2 major academic theories have been been used in the study."

The reply: "For each research objective, the study employs specific academic theories to underpin its analysis:

1. Exploring how landlord-tenant social relationships shape renters' experiences:

Sociological Analysis of Rex and Moore (1967): This classic sociological work emphasizes that landlord-tenant relations are governed by informal social codes, judgments, and discretion, rather than strict contractual rules. It highlights the importance of micro-level social interactions and informal dynamics in shaping renter experiences,.
Relational Approach to Housing: This theoretical perspective views housing and renting experiences as embedded within social relationships, emphasizing interpersonal dynamics, power, and social interactions rather than solely contractual or economic factors.

2. Investigating how these relationships impact tenants’ ability to feel at home and wellbeing:

Wellbeing and Social Capital Theory: The study considers how positive social interactions and relationships with landlords can enhance tenants' sense of belonging, safety, and overall wellbeing, drawing on theories that link social capital to mental health and life satisfaction.
Micro-Level Social Interaction Theory: This underscores the significance of everyday social exchanges and perceived informal support or discrimination in influencing mental wellbeing and feelings of home,.

3. Examining the variability and unevenness in renters’ experiences based on interactions:

Power and Inequality Theory (Drawing from Rex and Moore): This framework highlights how landlords’ superior market power and discretion create unequal experiences among renters, reinforcing social inequalities within the sector,.
Discretion and Judgment in Social Relations Theory: This emphasizes how individual discretion exercised by landlords leads to variable experiences, often dependent on subjective judgments which contribute to uneven outcomes for tenants.

4. Contributing to understanding of micro-level social dynamics beyond macroeconomic analyses:

Actor-Network Theory (ANT): While not explicitly named, the emphasis on agency and social relations aligns with ANT principles, acknowledging that individual actors (landlords and tenants) and their interactions shape outcomes, countering purely macro-level economic explanations.
Micro-sociological Theories of Social Interaction: These focus on everyday social practices, judgments, and interactions that go beyond formal rules, underpinning the relational approach used in the study."

My question 3: "For each of the research objectives, indicate one research method used to study it."

The reply: "For each of the research objectives, the study employs specific qualitative research methods:

1. Exploring how landlord-tenant social relationships shape renters' experiences:

In-depth Remote Interviews: The researchers conducted 53 semi-structured interviews with private renters across the UK, which allowed them to gather detailed insights into personal experiences and the nature of social interactions with landlords.

2. Investigating how these relationships impact tenants’ ability to feel at home and wellbeing:

Thematic Data Coding and Analysis: The interview transcripts were analyzed thematically, focusing on how landlord behaviors and relationships influence perceptions of security, comfort, and wellbeing,.

3. Examining the variability and unevenness in renters’ experiences based on interactions:

Purposive Sampling and Qualitative Comparative Analysis: The study employed purposive sampling to include diverse participants across income, location, and household types, which enabled an examination of different experiences and how they relate to landlord interactions.

4. Contributing to understanding of micro-level social dynamics beyond macroeconomic analyses:

Qualitative Thematic Analysis of Narratives: The detailed qualitative analysis of interview data allowed the researchers to explore nuanced social dynamics, judgments, and discretion exercised by landlords that influence tenants' experiences, thus moving beyond macro-level explanations,."

My question 4: "Comment on the originality, academic and practical values of the study."

The reply: "The study offers notable originality, as it shifts the focus from macroeconomic and policy discourses to a micro-level, relational understanding of the tenant-landlord relationship within the private rented sector (PRS). By explicitly drawing on the sociological analysis of Rex and Moore (1967), it reinvigorates classical social theories to examine contemporary housing issues—an approach that enriches existing housing research by emphasizing social interactions, discretion, and informal codes that shape tenants' experiences. This relational perspective is relatively underexplored in the UK context, making the study both innovative and insightful.

Academic Value:

The study contributes to the theoretical understanding by integrating classical sociological concepts into empirical research on housing, thus bridging traditional social theories with contemporary issues in private renting.
It advances scholarly knowledge on the nuanced social dynamics, power imbalances, and informal practices that underpin tenant experiences, offering a more textured understanding than macro-level analyses.
The qualitative, micro-level approach fills a significant gap in the literature, which has often prioritized quantitative, macroeconomic, or policy-focused studies on housing, thereby complementing and expanding academic discussions in housing studies, sociology, and urban geography.

Practical Value:

By highlighting how informal relationships and discretionary behaviors of landlords influence tenant wellbeing, the study provides valuable insights for policymakers, suggesting that regulatory measures alone may be insufficient without considering social dynamics.
The findings emphasize the importance of landlord behaviour, responsiveness, and discretion in shaping tenant experiences, pointing to areas where interventions or codes of practice could be developed to improve standards and fairness.
Practitioners such as housing agencies, tenant advisory services, and landlords can benefit from understanding the relational aspects that affect home stability, security, and satisfaction, guiding more person-centered and relationship-aware practices.

In essence, the study’s originality lies in applying a sociological, relational lens to contemporary housing research, providing both theoretical enrichment and practical insights that have the potential to influence policy, practice, and future scholarship."

The uncovered academic literature review tree