An example of studying the three layers of reality (critical realism) on the topic of home ownership and marriage: for Housing Studies students (information from perplexity.ai)
My question 1: "Briefly explain the three layers of reality in critical realism."
The reply: "The three layers of reality in critical realism are the real, the actual, and the empirical. Each represents a distinct aspect of how reality is structured and understood.
The Real
The real domain contains the underlying structures, mechanisms, and powers that exist independently of whether they are observed or experienced. These structures generate events and occurrences but may not always be visible or directly knowable.
The Actual
The actual domain involves the events and actions that take place—whether or not they are observed or experienced. It represents what happens when the powers and mechanisms in the real domain become active.
The Empirical
The empirical domain consists of what is actually observed or experienced by individuals. It is limited to what people perceive and record, making it subjective and dependent on human experience.
In summary: The real refers to deep causal mechanisms, the actual to events that occur, and the empirical to experiences and observations of those events."
My question 2: "With reference to the topic of "the Hong Kong gen z singles' views on the relatedness between home ownership and marriage in 2025", please suggest 2 research methods to study each of the layers of reality (critical realism), and then briefly discuss how each of the research method findings can inform the understanding of the three layers of reality in this case."
The reply: "For studying "Hong Kong Gen Z singles' views on the relatedness between home ownership and marriage in 2025" through the three layers of reality in critical realism, each layer can be addressed with specific research methods whose findings provide complementary insights.
Empirical Layer: What is Observed
Suggested research methods:
Surveys or questionnaires: Directly asking Gen Z singles about their experiences, opinions, and observed behaviors regarding home ownership and its link to marriage.
Structured interviews: Collecting accounts from participants about how housing and marriage interplay in their personal lives.
How findings inform understanding: These methods illuminate the observable attitudes, reported actions, and perceptions—shedding light on how the topic appears at the surface level in daily life for this generation.
Actual Layer: What Happens
Suggested research methods:
Focus groups: Exploring how marriage and home ownership decisions unfold among participants in discussion, revealing commonly occurring events not always captured by surveys.
Document or secondary data analysis: Examining statistics, policy reports, or market trends to see actual patterns (e.g., rates of marriage versus home ownership among Gen Z).
How findings inform understanding: These approaches inform about what really happens: typical pathways, critical turning points, and how collective results or trends are shaped. They may show, for example, whether marriage is increasingly postponed due to housing constraints.
Real Layer: Underlying Mechanisms
Suggested research methods:
Abductive theorizing (theoretical redescription): Using the collected qualitative and quantitative data to infer deeper causal structures, such as cultural norms or market forces that shape the relationship between marriage and home ownership.
Retrospective policy analysis: Studying the evolution of relevant housing, marriage, or social policies to uncover the institutional or systemic drivers that underpin observed patterns.
How findings inform understanding: These methods aim to uncover hidden influences and mechanisms—like social expectations about family formation, government housing policy, or property market dynamics—that structure Gen Z's perceptions and choices, going beyond immediate observation to theorize the root causes or enablers.
In summary, survey/interview data reveal the "empirical," focus groups/data analysis address the "actual," and abductive/retrospective approaches infer the "real," allowing researchers to build a layered, holistic explanation of how home ownership and marriage interrelate for Hong Kong Gen Z singles in 2025."
My question 3: "Please describe 6 main ideas to highlight the topic of "Retrospective policy analysis" mentioned above and suggest 4 academic readings on this topic of "Retrospective policy analysis"."
The reply: "Retrospective policy analysis examines policies after their implementation to understand their development, effectiveness, and overall impact on society. Here are six main ideas to highlight its significance:
Six Main Ideas in Retrospective Policy Analysis
Historical Evaluation: This method studies past policy decisions, tracing their origins and development to evaluate context and rationale.
Outcome Assessment: Retrospective analysis measures actual outcomes, identifying what worked, what failed, and reasons for success or shortcomings.
Program and Impact Evaluation: It systematically assesses the impact of policy interventions, often using evaluative frameworks to judge effectiveness across multiple dimensions.
Learning from Mistakes and Successes: By documenting lessons, policymakers can improve future policy formulation, avoiding past errors and replicating effective strategies.
Accountability and Transparency: Retrospective analysis helps hold decision-makers accountable by assessing the long-term consequences of their actions.
Policy Context and Stakeholders: It highlights the influence of contextual factors and stakeholder roles, offering deeper understanding of how policies interact with society and are shaped by diverse actors.
Academic Readings on Retrospective Policy Analysis
Dunn, William N. (2004), "Public Policy Analysis: An Introduction" – a foundational text discussing retrospective and prospective types of analysis.
Friedman, Lee S. (2002), "The Microeconomics of Public Policy Analysis" – explores evaluative approaches and outcomes analysis.
Habebo, T.T. et al. (2020), "Retrospective Policy Analysis of Tobacco Prevention and Control in Ethiopia" – demonstrates application in public health policy.
Parr, S. (2014), "Integrating critical realist and feminist methodologies" – connects retrospective analysis with wider methodological debates in policy studies.
These sources offer practical frameworks and real-world applications for understanding and conducting retrospective policy analysis."
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