Asking Chatgpt to clarify the topic of critical realism for dissertation work: a note for Housing Studies students

Asking Chatgpt to clarify the topic of critical realism for dissertation work: a note for Housing Studies students

I am a part-time Housing Studies student, currently preparing my dissertation proposal about homelessness in the Sham Shui Po district of Hong Kong. Below is an account of my dialogue with the assistant bot (a chatgpt app accessed via poe.com) on the topic of critical realism with special reference to dissertation project work for Housing Studies students:

My initial question is: "I have come across the topic of critical realism and would like to learn what it is and how the adoption of this research paradigm can guide the research methodology to use for my dissertation project. Could you give me some clarification?"

The reply from the assistant bot: "Certainly, I'd be happy to provide some information about critical realism and how it can guide your research methodology for your dissertation on homelessness in the Sham Shui Po district of Hong Kong.

Critical realism is a research paradigm that was developed by the philosopher Roy Bhaskar in the 1970s. It is a philosophical approach that combines a realist ontology (the belief that there is an external reality that exists independently of our perception of it) with a constructivist epistemology (the belief that our knowledge of that reality is always mediated through our own perspectives and experiences).

The key principles of critical realism are:

Ontological realism: There is a reality that exists independently of our knowledge of it.

Epistemological relativism: Our knowledge of that reality is always historically, culturally, and socially situated.

Judgemental rationality: We can still make rational judgments about the validity of different claims about reality, even if our knowledge is limited and fallible.

In the context of your dissertation on homelessness in Sham Shui Po, a critical realist approach would involve the following:

Acknowledging that homelessness is a real, objective phenomenon that exists independently of how it is perceived or understood.

Recognizing that different stakeholders (policymakers, service providers, the homeless themselves) may have different perspectives and understandings of the causes and experiences of homelessness, which are shaped by their particular social and cultural contexts.

Seeking to develop an explanatory account of homelessness that goes beyond simply describing the problem, but attempts to uncover the underlying causal mechanisms and structures that contribute to it.

From a methodological standpoint, a critical realist approach would likely involve a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including:

In-depth interviews with homeless individuals, service providers, and other key stakeholders to understand their perspectives and experiences.

Analysis of relevant policy documents, statistical data, and other secondary sources to identify the structural and institutional factors contributing to homelessness.

The use of case studies or ethnographic approaches to provide rich, contextual insights into the lived experiences of homeless individuals.

The adoption of a retroductive research strategy, which involves moving back and forth between theory and empirical observation to identify the causal mechanisms at play.

Overall, a critical realist approach to your dissertation would allow you to develop a nuanced and contextually-grounded understanding of homelessness in Sham Shui Po, while also contributing to broader theoretical and policy debates on this important social issue.".

My second question is: "I am aware that poverty, housing affordability, Hong Kong housing policy and personal history of citizens are some of the factors affect the homelessness problem in Sham Shui Po. If I adopt critical realism for my research methodology, what will my unstructured interview research, observational research and desk research look like in this case?"

The reply from the assistant bot is: "Excellent question. Let's take a look at how a critical realist approach would shape the different research methods you could employ for your dissertation on homelessness in Sham Shui Po:

Unstructured Interviews:

The goal would be to uncover the lived experiences, perspectives, and understandings of homelessness from the various stakeholders involved, such as:

Homeless individuals - to understand their personal histories, challenges, coping mechanisms, etc.

Service providers - to get their insights on the structural and institutional barriers faced by the homeless.

Policymakers - to explore the rationale and assumptions behind housing and social welfare policies.

The interviews would be open-ended and exploratory, allowing participants to share their own narratives and framings of the issue.

The analysis would look for patterns, themes, and underlying causal mechanisms that could explain the phenomenon of homelessness.

Observational Research:

On-site observations in Sham Shui Po would provide rich, contextual data on the lived realities of homelessness.

This could involve shadowing homeless individuals, observing interactions at shelters/services, and documenting the physical environment and infrastructure.

The goal would be to understand the social, spatial, and institutional structures that shape the homeless experience.

Observations would be recorded in detailed field notes, with attention to both "what" is happening and potential "why" explanations.

Desk Research:

A critical analysis of relevant policy documents, statistical data, academic literature, and media reports.

The aim would be to identify the broader socio-economic, political, and historical factors contributing to homelessness in Sham Shui Po.

This could include examining:

Housing policies and their impacts on affordability and accessibility.

Poverty and inequality trends in the district.

Deinstitutionalization and the shrinking of social welfare programs.

Migration patterns and personal histories of the homeless population.

The desk research would help uncover the deeper, underlying structures and mechanisms at play.

The integration of these different methods - unstructured interviews, observational research, and desk research - would allow you to develop a rich, contextual, and theoretically-informed understanding of homelessness in Sham Shui Po. The critical realist approach would guide you to look beyond just the surface-level description of the problem and to uncover the complex, multi-layered causal factors at work.."

My third question is: "What specific themes should I focus on during the unstructured interviews?"

The reply from the assistant bot is: "As you conduct unstructured interviews from a critical realist perspective for your dissertation on homelessness in Sham Shui Po, here are some key themes you may want to focus on:

Personal histories and pathways into homelessness:

Explore the individual life trajectories and experiences that have led participants to become homeless.

Understand the role of factors such as family breakdown, job loss, health issues, addiction, and other personal crises.

Uncover the interplay between individual agency and structural constraints.

Experiences of homelessness:

Understand the day-to-day challenges, coping mechanisms, and survival strategies of the homeless.

Explore how homelessness impacts physical and mental health, social relationships, and sense of identity.

Examine how the homeless navigate and interact with the built environment and public spaces in Sham Shui Po.

Access to and experiences with support services:

Understand the homeless individuals' knowledge of and access to available social services and housing assistance.

Explore their perceptions and experiences with these services - whether they are helpful, adequate, or pose additional barriers.

Uncover any gaps or limitations in the existing support system.

Perspectives on housing and social welfare policies:

Explore how the homeless individuals understand and make sense of the housing and social welfare policies in Hong Kong.

Understand their views on the underlying rationale, assumptions, and effectiveness of these policies.

Identify any perceived misalignments between policy objectives and lived realities.

Visions for change and improvement:

Understand the homeless individuals' ideas and proposals for addressing the root causes of homelessness.

Explore their perspectives on what kind of support, resources, or policy changes could make a meaningful difference.

Uncover their sense of agency and ability to influence the broader social and political landscape.

By focusing on these themes, you can gain rich, contextual insights into the lived experiences and perspectives of the homeless population in Sham Shui Po. This will help you uncover the underlying causal mechanisms and structural factors that contribute to homelessness, in line with the critical realist approach."

My fourth question is: "What strategies can I use to analyze the data collected from these interviews?"

The reply from the assistant bot is: "As a critical realist researcher, there are several strategies you can employ to analyze the data collected from the unstructured interviews on homelessness in the Sham Shui Po district of Hong Kong:

Retroductive analysis:

This involves moving back and forth between the empirical data and theoretical explanations to uncover the underlying causal mechanisms that generate the observed phenomenon of homelessness.

Start by identifying patterns, themes, and key concepts that emerge from the interview transcripts.

Then, consider how these empirical findings relate to or challenge existing theories and models of homelessness.

Develop hypotheses about the causal mechanisms at play and use further data collection and analysis to refine and validate these explanations.

Abductive reasoning:

Engage in an iterative process of moving between the data and potential explanations or interpretations.

Carefully consider alternative framings and perspectives that can account for the complexities and contradictions within the data.

Assess the plausibility and coherence of different causal explanations, while remaining open to revising your understanding as new insights emerge.

Contextual analysis:

Situate the interview data within the broader social, economic, political, and historical context of Sham Shui Po and Hong Kong.

Examine how the personal narratives and experiences of the homeless are shaped by the structural conditions and institutional arrangements in the region.

Analyze how the interviewees' perspectives and understandings are influenced by their own social positions and lived realities.

Thematic analysis:

Identify recurring themes, patterns, and relationships within the interview data.

Develop a coding framework that captures the key concepts, experiences, and causal factors related to homelessness.

Analyze how these themes intersect and interact to produce the complex phenomenon of homelessness.

Triangulation:

Combine the insights from the unstructured interviews with data from other sources, such as policy documents, statistical records, and observational fieldwork.

Use this triangulation to corroborate findings, identify contradictions, and develop a more comprehensive understanding of the problem.

Throughout the analysis, maintain a critical and reflexive stance, acknowledging the limitations of your own perspective and the provisional nature of your explanations. Strive to uncover the underlying causal mechanisms that shape the experiences of homelessness in Sham Shui Po, while recognizing the role of social, cultural, and historical factors in shaping these mechanisms."

Overall evaluation comments

The assistant bot offers quite useful and concrete information to clarify the topic of critical realism to me. It serves as good study materials for Housing Studies students learning the subject of Research Methods.

Reference: a collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.