A note on the core-focus-domain in the agile literature review approach (ALRA) diagrams for housing studies

 A note on the core-focus-domain in the agile literature review approach (ALRA) diagrams for housing studies.

Core-focus-domain (CFD) is required to be indicated in the theoretical framework level-0; some students also indicates CFD early in the housing-concerns diagram.

What CFD comprises are the main research objectives of a consulting-oriented dissertation project that employs the agile literature review approach. My recommendation is that at least 1  CFD item should be located in zone 2 (housing topic: nature and characteristics) of the ALRA diagrams. It is normally a good idea to have 1 CFD item in zone 2 so that the basic housing theme (e.g. homelessness, housing affordability, and home ownership) is clear and focused. Anyway, the number of CFD items should be 1 to 2, in order to offer a reasonably robust research focus for a dissertation project. Each CFD item should be populated with about 4 academic ideas (via the literature review effort) while a non-CFD item makes use of 1-2 academic ideas. As such a full-fledged two-direction literature review is mainly relevant to CFD items.

The implication of having a CFD is that about 50 to 60% of the literature review and research efforts should be spent on the CFD items. 

The non-CFD items are useful in that they provide a clear contextualization of the research project work and help in clarifying the nature of the CFD items.

Note: The advice provided in this note is primarily for housing students doing dissertation projects at the undergraduate degree level.