An illustrative example of how to come up with an assignment 2 prototype: for Housing studies students (information from perplexity.ai)
My question 1: "Please suggest 1 concrete Housing studies research themes based on the following keywords: the subdivided flats in Hong Kong, livability, housing justice, housing policy of Hong Kong. The research theme formulation should be based on the research philosophy of pragmatism."
The reply: "A suitable pragmatist research theme is:
“Evaluating how recent Hong Kong housing policies on subdivided flats reshape livability and housing justice for low‑income tenants, and identifying policy adjustments that work in practice.”
Focus and rationale
This theme links:
Subdivided flats and livability: You can examine how new minimum standards (e.g. basic housing unit requirements such as size, ventilation, safety) change day‑to‑day living conditions, health, and perceived dignity of residents.
Housing justice: You can assess whether regulatory and rent‑related reforms (e.g. proposed regulation of SDUs, efforts to eliminate substandard units, and reforms to public rental housing incentives) lead to more equitable access to adequate housing for low‑income households.
Under pragmatism, the study explicitly aims to:
Combine qualitative evidence (tenants’ and landlords’ experiences of “what works” on the ground) with quantitative indicators (crowding, rent burden, health complaints, waiting time for PRH, etc.).
Produce actionable recommendations on how to fine‑tune Hong Kong’s SDU regulation and broader housing policy so that they both improve livability and advance housing justice in feasible, politically workable ways."
My question 2: "Please suggest a dissertation proposal title based on the research theme above, as well as 2 housing issues and 2 related research objectives. For each of the 2 housing issues, try to suggest 2 primary research methods (some design details should be offered), indicate how each of the research methods is related to which research objective, and comment on their strengths and weaknesses and mutual complementarity (including possibility of triangulation of research findings)."
The reply: "Dissertation Proposal Title
"Pragmatic Evaluation of Hong Kong's Subdivided Flats Policies: Enhancing Livability and Advancing Housing Justice for Low-Income Residents".
Research Objectives
Objective 1: Assess the impact of recent subdivided flats regulations on tenants' physical living conditions, including overcrowding, ventilation, and safety.
Objective 2: Evaluate policy enforcement gaps and their effects on equitable housing access, rent affordability, and justice for vulnerable households.
Housing Issue 1: Substandard Physical Conditions
Overcrowding, poor ventilation, hygiene issues, and safety risks persist in subdivided flats, hindering livability despite minimum standards.
Primary Research Methods
Structured Environmental Surveys (linked to Objective 1): Survey 80-100 units in Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong using checklists for metrics like floor area (<8m²), window coverage, pest presence, and fire exits; include photos and 1-5 livability scores; analyze descriptively via Excel/SPSS.
Strengths: Yields objective, standardized data for pre/post-policy comparisons. Weaknesses: Access barriers and static snapshots overlook daily variations.
Semi-Structured Tenant Interviews (linked to Objective 1): Conduct 20 interviews (30-45 mins) with residents, probing health effects and adaptations; transcribe and theme via NVivo.
Strengths: Uncovers nuanced experiences and policy perceptions. Weaknesses: Small sample risks bias and low generalizability.
Mutual Complementarity: Surveys provide quantifiable baselines (e.g., 60% units lacking ventilation) triangulated with interview narratives on health impacts, strengthening causal links to Objective 1 for reliable livability assessments.
Housing Issue 2: Enforcement and Equity Gaps
Uneven regulation implementation and absent rent controls exacerbate rent burdens and waiting times, undermining housing justice.
Primary Research Methods
Tenant Questionnaires (linked to Objective 2): Distribute to 120-150 residents via NGOs, with Likert scales on rent-income ratio (>30%), policy awareness, and PRH wait times; use SPSS for regressions by demographics.
Strengths: Enables statistical patterns across groups for equity measurement. Weaknesses: Self-report biases and response dropouts.
Stakeholder Focus Groups (linked to Objective 2): Run 3 groups (6-8 participants each: policymakers, landlords, NGOs; 60 mins) discussing barriers like enforcement feasibility; record and code for themes.
Strengths: Captures diverse implementation insights and pragmatic fixes. Weaknesses: Group dynamics may suppress dissent.
Mutual Complementarity: Questionnaires quantify inequities (e.g., correlated rent hikes with long waits), while focus groups explain mechanisms (e.g., enforcement shortfalls), triangulating for holistic evidence on Objective 2 and policy recommendations."
My question 3: "Suggest 3 relevant academic theories to use for studying the topic above and then offer 5 academic references and 5 non-academic references in Harvard reference format."
The reply: "Three Relevant Academic Theories
Pragmatism, as the guiding philosophy, supports practical, mixed-methods inquiry into subdivided flats by prioritizing what "works" in policy implementation for livability and justice.
Housing Justice Framework: Examines how policies address structural inequalities in access to safe, affordable housing, linking subdivided flats' conditions to broader social inequities.
Livability Theory: Assesses urban living quality through dimensions like density, amenities, and health, applied to evaluate subdivided flats' habitability post-regulation.
Policy Implementation Theory (Top-Down/Bottom-Up): Analyzes enforcement gaps by comparing intended policy designs with street-level outcomes, revealing barriers to equity in Hong Kong's context.
Academic References
Forrant, R. and Silka, L. (2017) Inside Smart Cities: Urban Planning, Design and Governance. London: Routledge.
Hoolachan, A. and McKee, K. (2019) 'Housing justice: A sociological critique of the right to buy and right to rent', Housing Studies, 34(8), pp. 1285-1303.
Wong, M.B. (2022) The Solution to Hong Kong's Subdivided Housing Crisis. Hong Kong: Independent Report.
Yau, Y. (2011) 'Multistakeholder participation in urban redevelopment projects', Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 26(4), pp. 455-470.
Zhang, X. and Wan, Y. (2023) 'Social impact assessment of transitional social housing', Sustainability, 15(5), p. 4123.
Non-Academic References
Hong Kong Government (2024) LCQ16: Tackling the issue of subdivided units. Available at: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202404/10/P2024041000259.htm (Accessed: 29 November 2025).
Housing Bureau (2022) Tackling the Issue of Subdivided Units - Basic Housing Units. Available at: https://www.hb.gov.hk/eng/policy/housing/policy/tenancy_control/index.html (Accessed: 29 November 2025).
Legislative Council (2013) Report on Survey on Subdivided Units in Hong Kong. Available at: https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr12-13/english/panels/hg/hg_lths/papers/hg_lths0626cb1-1371-3-e.pdf (Accessed: 29 November 2025).
News.gov.hk (2024) Subdivided flats policy explained. Available at: https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2024/10/20241016/20241016_172717_594.html (Accessed: 29 November 2025).
Our HK Foundation (2024) A closer look into the subdivided flat issues. Available at: https://ourhkfoundation.org.hk/en/media/commentaries/ (Accessed: 29 November 2025)."
