A note on how to write the introduction section of project background in Housing Studies dissertation reports; also for MBA students

A note on how to write the introduction section of project background in Housing Studies dissertation reports (information from perplexity.ai); it also has an illustrative example for MBA students.

My question 1: "In the context of writing a Housing Studies dissertation report, very often, I am not sure what I need to say about the "background of the study", and how concise I need to do so. Could you give me some advice?"

The reply: "The background of the study in a Housing Studies dissertation provides essential context by setting the stage for your research problem, linking broad field issues to your specific focus. Aim for conciseness, typically 400-800 words (1-2 pages), to avoid overwhelming readers while building a clear rationale.

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Key Elements

Start with a general overview of housing challenges, such as affordability crises or policy gaps in Hong Kong, then narrow to your topic using statistics or historical trends. Include a brief literature review highlighting key theories, past findings, and identified gaps your study addresses. End by justifying your research's relevance, like its policy implications for local markets.​

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Writing Steps

Follow a funnel approach: Begin broad (e.g., global housing trends), add real-world evidence (government reports, HK stats), review literature succinctly, and pinpoint gaps leading to your questions. Use active voice, cite sources inline (Harvard style per your preference), and integrate context like Fanling's North District dynamics if relevant.

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Conciseness Tips

Prioritize 3-5 key facts or stats; cut redundant history or overly broad reviews. Revise by asking: Does this directly support my problem statement? Target 20-30% of your intro chapter. Test readability by ensuring a non-expert grasps the "why" in one read."

My question 2: "Could you recommend 2 relevant YouTube videos for me to study and also highlight the main ideas on each of the YouTube videos you have recommend?"

The reply: "Two relevant YouTube videos provide clear, step-by-step guidance on writing the background of the study for dissertations, applicable to Housing Studies by adapting examples to housing policy gaps or market trends.

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Video 1 Recommendation

Watch "💪 How to Write the Background of a Study in a Research Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide 🎓" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFlBRviE70w (12 minutes, by Research with Dr. Saeed). Main ideas include using a funnel structure starting broad with field overviews, narrowing via brief literature reviews to research gaps, and ending with study motivations; it shares a 3-step approach (context, issues, gaps) with practical examples from published papers."

Video 2 Recommendation

Watch "How to Write the Background of the Study in Research (Part 1)" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO2witTCkps (part of a thesis series by PhiloNotes, ~10 minutes). Key points cover defining the background's core elements like topic introduction, research gaps, goals, and thesis statement; it explains deductive techniques with samples, emphasizing logical flow from general knowledge to specific problems your Housing Studies work addresses."

My question 3: "What has the discussion of "the background of the study" related to the 3 topics of the relevant "research gaps", "research issues" and "public media-reported issues"? Are these 3 topics also discussed in the section of "the background of the study" or in other parts of the Chapter of Introduction in a dissertation report?"

The reply: "​In a Housing Studies dissertation, the "background of the study" section typically integrates discussions of research gaps, research issues, and public media-reported issues to establish context and justify the research, often using a funnel structure from broad trends to specific needs.

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Coverage in Background

Research gaps (unresolved questions in literature) and research issues (key problems or debates in the field) form core components here, highlighted via a concise literature summary that identifies inconsistencies or limitations, such as gaps in Hong Kong housing policy analysis. Public media-reported issues (e.g., affordability crises from news) appear as real-world evidence to ground academic gaps, showing societal relevance like Fanling's North District housing shortages.

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Placement in Introduction Chapter

These elements primarily reside in the background subsection of Chapter 1 (Introduction), which precedes the problem statement and objectives; fuller elaboration of gaps often extends into a dedicated literature review later in the chapter or as Chapter 2. Media issues may recur in the rationale or significance subsections for emphasis, ensuring the background remains concise (1-2 pages)."

My question 4: "In the Introduction Chapter of a dissertation report, is it also desirable to touch on the topic of "the researcher's positionality" so as to make clear the researcher's motivation to investigate a particular research theme and a particular set of research problems?"

The reply: "Yes, including a brief discussion of the researcher's positionality in the Introduction Chapter of a Housing Studies dissertation is desirable, particularly for qualitative or mixed-methods work, as it transparently links personal motivations to the chosen research theme and problems like Hong Kong housing affordability.

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Role in Introduction

Positionality clarifies how your background—such as being a part-time MBA/Housing Studies student in Fanling, North District—shapes your interest in local policy gaps, enhancing credibility by addressing potential biases early. Limit it to 1-2 paragraphs here, outlining professional experiences (e.g., research methods lecturing), personal stakes, and reflexivity on how these influence problem selection, without delving into full methodology.

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Typical Placement

Place it toward the end of the Introduction (after background and problem statement), as a bridge to research objectives, signaling ethical awareness; expand fully in the methodology chapter for deeper reflexivity on insider/outsider status. This aligns with your academic context, avoiding overemphasis in Chapter 1 while motivating the study authentically."

My question 5: "Could you provide a kind of template to synthesize your clarification of ideas about Introduction, notably on "background of the study" so as to make it easier for me to following your advice?"

The reply: "A template for the Introduction Chapter in a Housing Studies dissertation synthesizes the background of the study with key elements like research gaps, issues, media context, and positionality into a concise, funnel-shaped structure (typically 1500-3000 words total).

Chapter 1: Introduction Template

1.1 Background of the Study (400-800 words)

• Broad Context: Introduce global/regional housing challenges (e.g., affordability crises in Asia-Pacific, stats from UN-Habitat or HK Census).​

• Narrow to Local Issues: Discuss HK-specific trends like Fanling/North District shortages, policy shifts (e.g., public housing waits), blending research issues (debates on supply models), research gaps (e.g., limited mixed-methods on post-2025 impacts), and public media-reported issues (news on skyrocketing rents).
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• Transition: Link to your study's focus, e.g., "These gaps in understanding policy effectiveness motivate this investigation."

1.2 Research Problem and Gaps (300-500 words)

Explicitly state the core problem (e.g., "Inadequate integration of quantitative valuation and qualitative resident experiences in HK housing policy evaluation") and reiterate 2-3 key gaps from background, supported by citations.

1.3 Research Objectives/Questions (200 words)

• List 3-5 objectives or questions derived from gaps (e.g., "To assess dividend-like returns in subsidized housing via regressions").

1.4 Researcher's Positionality (150-250 words)

Briefly note your background (e.g., "As a part-time Housing Studies/MBA student and research methods lecturer in Fanling, personal exposure to local shortages drives this study, with reflexivity on potential insider bias addressed in methodology.").

1.5 Significance and Structure Overview (200-300 words)

Outline contributions (policy/practice) and chapter roadmap. End with study delimitations.

Usage Tips

Adapt placeholders to your Harvard-style citations; ensure funnel flow from broad to specific. Revise for 20-30% of total dissertation length, testing for clarity."

My question 6: "Could you make use of your template of [Chapter 1: Introduction Template: 1.1 Background of the Study; 1.2 Research Problem and Gaps; 1.3 Research Objectives/ Questions; 1.4 Researcher's Positionality; 1.5 Significance and Structure Overview], to provide an illustrative example on the following MBA research theme: to explore how the Hong Kong banking downsizing due to AI applications affects employee morale and job stress"?"

The reply: "Below is a concise illustrative example using the template, tailored to the MBA theme: “to explore how Hong Kong banking downsizing due to AI applications affects employee morale and job stress.” This is model text to guide your own writing, not something to copy verbatim.

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1.1 Background of the Study

Over the past decade, rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation have reshaped the global banking industry, transforming front-line customer service, back-office operations, and risk management functions. International banks have increasingly deployed chatbots, robo-advisors, and algorithmic decision systems to reduce operational costs, enhance service speed, and comply with tightening regulatory requirements.

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In Hong Kong, as a major international financial centre, leading banks have accelerated AI adoption in areas such as digital onboarding, credit scoring, transaction monitoring, and branch automation. While these technologies can improve efficiency and customer experience, they also contribute to workforce restructuring, role redefinition, and in some cases, downsizing of traditional clerical and middle-management positions. Public reports and media coverage have highlighted branch closures, consolidation of back-office units, and voluntary exit schemes as banks respond to competitive pressures from virtual banks and changing customer preferences for digital channels.

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These developments raise important questions about employee experiences in the sector, especially regarding morale, job stress, and perceptions of job security during AI-driven transformation. Existing management and human resource literature documents that restructuring and technological change can generate uncertainty, workload intensification, and psychological strain, particularly when employees fear redundancy or skill obsolescence. However, studies focusing specifically on how AI-enabled downsizing in Hong Kong banking influences employee morale and job stress remain limited, with most local research concentrating on customer satisfaction, digital adoption, or macroeconomic impacts of fintech.

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Given Hong Kong’s role as a financial hub and the scale of AI initiatives across its banking sector, there is a need for focused empirical research on the human side of AI-driven downsizing, especially from the perspective of employees who remain in the organisation. This study responds to that need by examining how AI-related downsizing is perceived by bank employees and how these perceptions relate to morale and job stress in the Hong Kong context.

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1.2 Research Problem and Gaps

The central problem addressed in this study is the limited understanding of how AI-enabled downsizing in Hong Kong banks affects the morale and job stress of employees who continue in employment after restructuring. While AI adoption is frequently justified in terms of efficiency gains and strategic competitiveness, its implications for employee well-being and engagement are often underexplored in managerial decision-making and local empirical research.

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Three main gaps emerge from the existing literature and practitioner reports.

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• First, there is a shortage of Hong Kong-based empirical studies that link AI-driven restructuring specifically to measurable outcomes such as morale and job stress, as distinct from general organisational change or automation.
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• Second, prior research tends to focus either on technological capability or HR practices, with relatively few studies integrating technology adoption, downsizing processes, and psychological outcomes into a single framework.
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• Third, qualitative insights into how banking employees interpret and make sense of AI-related downsizing—such as perceived fairness, communication quality, and future career prospects—are limited, leaving managers with insufficient guidance on supportive implementation strategies.
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Addressing these gaps can provide a more holistic understanding of AI-driven restructuring in Hong Kong banks, balancing efficiency considerations with sustainable workforce well-being.

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1.3 Research Objectives / Questions

In light of the above problem and gaps, this study pursues the following objectives:

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• To examine employees’ perceptions of AI-related downsizing in Hong Kong banks, including perceived drivers, fairness, and communication quality.
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• To assess the relationship between AI-related downsizing and employee morale in the banking sector.
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• To assess the relationship between AI-related downsizing and employee job stress in the banking sector.
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• To explore how organisational support mechanisms (e.g., reskilling, counselling, career planning) may moderate the impact of AI-related downsizing on morale and job stress.
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These objectives can be expressed as the following research questions:

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1. How do banking employees in Hong Kong perceive AI-related downsizing in their organisations?

2. How does AI-related downsizing influence employee morale among Hong Kong bank staff?

3. How does AI-related downsizing influence job stress among Hong Kong bank staff?

4. In what ways do organisational support practices shape or buffer the effects of AI-related downsizing on morale and job stress?
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1.4 Researcher’s Positionality

The researcher occupies a dual position as both a management student and a practitioner with experience in business and research methods, which shapes the way AI and downsizing in the banking sector are observed and interpreted. Exposure to discussions on digital transformation, workforce restructuring, and staff well-being in Hong Kong’s service industries has informed the identification of this topic as both practically urgent and academically underexplored.

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This positionality brings certain advantages, such as familiarity with organisational dynamics, performance pressures, and staff concerns in the local context, which can support nuanced interpretation of employee narratives. At the same time, it introduces potential biases, including empathy toward employees’ stress and assumptions about managerial decision-making during restructuring. The study therefore adopts a reflexive stance, acknowledging these influences and seeking to mitigate them through transparent research design, systematic data collection, and critical engagement with multiple perspectives, as elaborated in the methodology chapter.

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1.5 Significance and Structure Overview

This study is significant for several stakeholder groups in Hong Kong’s banking sector. For managers and HR professionals, it offers evidence-based insights on how AI-related downsizing is experienced by employees, highlighting the links between restructuring, morale, and job stress, and identifying practices that may mitigate negative outcomes. For policymakers and regulators, the findings contribute to understanding the broader social and labour-market implications of financial-sector digitalisation, complementing existing analyses that focus mainly on competitiveness and innovation. For scholars, the study adds to the emerging literature at the intersection of AI adoption, downsizing, and employee well-being in Asian financial centres.

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The remainder of this dissertation is structured as follows. Chapter 2 reviews relevant literature on AI in banking, organisational change, downsizing, employee morale, and job stress, and develops the conceptual framework and hypotheses guiding the study. Chapter 3 outlines the research methodology, including research design, sampling, data collection methods, and data analysis procedures. Chapter 4 presents the empirical findings, while Chapter 5 discusses these findings in relation to the literature and conceptual framework. Chapter 6 concludes the study, summarising key contributions, managerial implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.