Asking generative AI to come up with a Housing Studies dissertation proposal: 01 (on HK residents' confidence on home purchase) (information from perplexity.ai)
(This note is related to assignment 1, 2025; assignment 1 also requires students to execute the research methodology plan.)
My question 1: "I have a few questions about my Housing Dissertation: my research theme is: "the effects of the Hong Kong economy status and the Hong Kong government policies in 2025 on the Hong Kong residents’ confidence on home purchase in 2025". I intend to the mixed methods research approach, based on pragmatism and I will use both a questionnaire survey and a semi-structured structured interview, as my main primary research methods. I will also used a secondary research method on studying some local news in Hong Kong. With this information. Could you come up with a dissertation proposal to me with: a dissertation title, 2 Hong Kong public media-reported issues and 2 research gaps related to my research theme, 4 related research objectives, 3 related research questions. three clearly developed research methods design on the questionnaire survey, the semi-structured interview. and the secondary research method. The overall research approach is the mixed methods research and (the research plan should include a simple flow-chart view of the overall research methodology of this study: to be constructed by the student). Also consider to apply 2 relevant Housing Studies theories to inform this study."
The reply: "Here is a detailed dissertation proposal draft based on your research theme about the effects of Hong Kong's 2025 economic status and government policies on residents' confidence in home purchase using a mixed methods pragmatist approach.
Dissertation Title
"Impact of Hong Kong's 2025 Economic Climate and Government Housing Policies on Residents’ Confidence in Home Purchasing: A Mixed Methods Pragmatic Study"
Two Public Media-Reported Issues in Hong Kong 2025 Housing Market
Oversupply and Price Decline: Despite increased market activity following the removal of cooling measures and interest rate cuts, Hong Kong's housing market is facing oversupply problems with a high level of unsold units and a projected price decline of about 5% in 2025 due to economic uncertainties and high financial costs for developers.
Rising Rental Demand vs. Housing Costs: Rental prices have been rising, driven in part by nonlocal university students and inflows of talent, creating affordability pressures. This has led some residents to view home ownership as a cost-effective alternative to renting, but overall buyer optimism remains low due to high mortgage rates and an unbalanced supply-demand situation.
Two Research Gaps
Resident Confidence and Perception Gap: While housing market data and policy impacts are reported, there is insufficient research on how residents’ confidence in purchasing homes changes in direct response to the economic conditions and government policies in 2025, particularly in the local context post-cooling measures.
Policy Impact on Home Purchase Behaviour: Despite active government interventions such as relaxed loan-to-value ratios and housing allowances, there is a gap in understanding the nuanced effects of these policies on the different demographic groups' home buying confidence and intentions in the current volatile economy.
Four Research Objectives
To evaluate the influence of Hong Kong’s 2025 economic status, including interest rates and supply conditions, on residents' confidence in purchasing homes.
To analyze the impact of 2025 government housing policies (e.g., loan-to-value ratio adjustments, home purchase allowances) on residents' home buying confidence.
To explore demographic variations (e.g., age, income, student status) in perceptions and confidence towards home purchase under the 2025 housing market context.
To integrate quantitative and qualitative data to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors shaping home purchase confidence in Hong Kong in 2025.
Three Research Questions
How does the current economic status of Hong Kong in 2025 affect residents’ confidence in purchasing homes?
What is the perceived impact of recent government housing policies on home purchase decisions among different resident groups?
How do residents describe their feelings and attitudes towards home ownership in the context of the current housing market conditions and policies?
Research Methods Design
Questionnaire Survey
Purpose: To quantitatively measure residents’ confidence levels, perceptions of economic status, and awareness/impact of government housing policies.
Participants: Hong Kong residents aged 18+, stratified sampling to ensure demographic diversity.
Structure: Combination of Likert-scale questions on confidence, multiple-choice on policy awareness, and demographic data collection.
Analysis: Statistical analysis (e.g., regression) to identify correlations between economic/policy factors and confidence levels.
Semi-Structured Interviews
Purpose: To gather in-depth qualitative insights on how residents interpret economic conditions and policies and their impact on home buying confidence.
Participants: Purposeful sampling focusing on key groups such as first-time buyers, renters, and students.
Procedure: Guided interviews exploring attitudes, motivations, and concerns related to home purchase confidence and government interventions.
Analysis: Thematic analysis to identify common themes and nuanced perspectives.
Secondary Research (Local News Content Analysis)
Purpose: To contextualize primary data with reported issues, public discourse, and policy announcements relevant to the housing market in 2025.
Sources: Major Hong Kong public media outlets' reports and articles on housing market conditions, government policies, and economic updates from 2024-2025.
Analysis: Content analysis to identify prevalent themes, narratives, and timelines influencing public perception.
Overall Research Approach
Philosophy: Pragmatism to integrate quantitative and qualitative findings for a practical understanding of the housing confidence phenomenon.
Design: Concurrent mixed methods with triangulation to cross-validate data from surveys, interviews, and secondary sources.
Relevant Housing Studies Theories to Inform the Study
Behavioral Theory of Housing Demand: Explains how personal, economic, and policy factors influence residents' housing choice behavior and confidence in purchasing decisions.
Political Economy of Housing: Provides a framework to understand how government policies, economic structures, and market forces shape housing affordability, supply, and buyer confidence.
This proposal provides a clear roadmap for investigating how 2025's economic environment and government interventions influence Hong Kong residents' confidence in home purchasing using a mixed-methods pragmatic approach supported by relevant theories and triangulated data sources."
My question 2: "Please comment on the originality, academic and practical values of this study, as well as the research ethics issues that need to be dealt with."
The reply: "Here is a detailed commentary on the originality, academic and practical values, as well as research ethics considerations for the proposed study on Hong Kong residents’ confidence in home purchase in 2025.
Originality of the Study
This study is original in its focus on the specific year 2025 Hong Kong economic status and government housing policies as key influences on residents' confidence. While market reports document price trends and policy changes, few have integrated primary data from residents themselves to capture evolving confidence levels. The mixed methods approach combining quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews, and local media analysis provides a novel comprehensive perspective. The focus on resident confidence as an outcome, rather than just market or transaction data, fills a distinctive gap in understanding behavioral and psychosocial responses to the evolving housing environment.
Academic Value
Academically, the study advances housing market literature by applying a pragmatist mixed methods framework that bridges quantitative and qualitative insights. It contributes new empirical data on the direct perceptions and confidence of Hong Kong residents during a critical economic period marked by government policy shifts and economic volatility. By drawing on behavioral housing demand theory and political economy frameworks, it enhances theoretical understanding of how macroeconomic and policy factors shape individual-level attitudes and housing decisions. This contributes to urban studies, housing economics, and policy research domains with context-specific findings relevant to other global cities facing housing affordability crises.
Practical Value
Practically, findings can inform policymakers about resident sentiment and the effectiveness of current housing policies, highlighting where confidence gaps or barriers exist. This can guide refinement of loan, subsidy, or supply policies to better support home ownership aspirations. Developers and real estate professionals may leverage insights to tailor products and communications addressing buyer concerns. Additionally, the study's multi-method evidence provides a rich resource for government agencies and housing advocacy groups aiming to promote housing market stability and social equity amidst ongoing supply and affordability challenges.
Research Ethics Considerations
Informed Consent: Participants in both surveys and interviews must give informed consent, clearly understanding the purpose, procedures, risks, and their rights including to withdraw without penalty.
Privacy and Confidentiality: Protecting personal data and responses is critical, with anonymization and secure storage protocols applied to sensitive demographic and opinion data.
Voluntary Participation: Participation must be completely voluntary, with no coercion or undue influence applied, especially considering potential vulnerabilities of groups like students or lower income residents.
Data Use Transparency: Clear communication about how the data collected will be used, published, and shared, respecting participant autonomy and intellectual property.
Avoidance of Harm: Care should be taken not to elicit or expose emotional distress during interviews, particularly when discussing sensitive financial or housing difficulties. Appropriate support or referral options should be in place.
Fair Sampling: Equitable and non-discriminatory sampling practices to include diverse demographic groups without bias.
This study balances originality, robust academic contribution, and practical relevance while upholding ethical standards essential to responsible social research in a sensitive domain such as housing. Its findings can provide actionable insights at a critical juncture for Hong Kong’s housing policy and resident welfare."
A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.
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