A note on the study of the empirical layer (critical realism) in dissertation project works (for MBA and Housing Studies students) (information from perplexity.ai)
My question 1: "What are "the human sensory experiences, perceptions, and observations" of the empirical layer of critical realism all about in the context of MBA and Housing Studies dissertation project works."
The reply: "In critical realism, the empirical layer refers to the domain of human sensory experiences, perceptions, and observations—essentially, what individuals see, hear, feel, and experience directly. In the context of an MBA or Housing Studies dissertation, this means focusing on how people actually perceive and report their lived experience related to the research topic, such as attitudes towards home ownership, housing conditions, or market behaviors. This layer is subjective and limited to what is observable and reportable by individuals, capturing the surface reality as it appears to human senses.
The empirical layer contrasts with the other critical realist layers: the actual (events that happen whether observed or not) and the real (underlying causal mechanisms). In research, the empirical captures data from surveys, interviews, or direct observations that reflect participants' sensory and experiential input. For example, in Housing Studies, this might include perceptions of housing affordability, safety, or satisfaction, while in an MBA project it might relate to observed consumer behavior or market reactions.
This focus on the empirical layer is crucial for grounding a study in real-world human experience before exploring deeper causal explanations (the real layer) through analysis. It aligns well with methods like structured interviews and questionnaires that aim to capture what people directly observe and feel, forming the basis to then theorize about underlying mechanisms or structural causes in critical realism research designs.
Thus, "the human sensory experiences, perceptions, and observations" in the empirical layer of critical realism are about what can be directly known through human senses and documented in research as the experiential reality of subjects within an MBA or Housing Studies dissertation project. This layer provides the foundational empirical data that critical realist researchers interpret and explain beyond surface appearances to broader social or economic structures."
My question 2: "Please give a brief illustration on how to use the following research methods to study "the human sensory experiences, perceptions, and observations" [the empirical layer] with regard to (1) "the research theme of innovation capability of Hong Kong Five-Star Hotels" and (2) "the short-time future home purchase desire of the Hong Kong generation z households":
The reply: "Here is a brief illustration of how to study "the human sensory experiences, perceptions, and observations" (the empirical layer in critical realism) for the given themes using the specified methods with academic theories:
Case 1: Questionnaire Survey with Quantitative Analysis
Theme 1 (Innovation capability of HK Five-Star Hotels): Use a structured questionnaire with Likert-scale items to capture guest and staff perceptions of innovation aspects (service quality, technology adoption). Quantitatively analyze results using statistical tests (factor analysis, regression).
Theme 2 (Short-time future home purchase desire of HK Gen Z households): Survey Gen Z respondents to rate their immediate home purchase intentions, housing preferences, and influencing perceptions. Analyze correlations or predictive factors.
Theories: Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to link perceptions of innovation usefulness with adoption; Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to explain intention formation in home buying.
Case 2: Narrative Interview with Purposeful Sampling
Theme 1: Conduct in-depth interviews with hotel managers and innovation leaders to articulate their lived experiences and perceptions of innovation implementation challenges and successes.
Theme 2: Interview purposively sampled Gen Z households about their narratives around housing desires, emotional and sensory experiences related to housing affordability and aspirations.
Theories: Interpretive Phenomenology to explore subjective meaning making; Structuration Theory to interpret how individual agency and social structure interact in innovation and housing decisions.
Case 3: Mixed Method—Questionnaire Survey + Narrative Interview with Purposeful Sampling
Combine the above approaches to first quantify sensory perceptions and attitudes through surveys, then deepen understanding via narrative interviews that explore complex experiential layers behind the quantitative trends.
Triangulate findings to link the empirical data from both methods with critical realist inquiry to uncover deeper causal mechanisms.
Theories: TAM and TPB for quantitative phase; Interpretive Phenomenology and Structuration Theory for qualitative phase ensuring richer layered analysis.
These approaches allow capturing and analyzing the empirical layer (human sensory experiences and reports) with robust academic grounding for MBA and Housing Studies dissertation projects on innovation in hotels and housing purchase desires in HK Gen Z households."
A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.
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