Asking chatgpt to clarify positivism for dissertation project study: a note for Housing Studies students.

Asking chatgpt to clarify positivism for dissertation project study: a note for Housing Studies students.

Below is my dialogue with the assistant bot (accessed via poe.com) about the research philosophy of positivism.

Introduction

I am a part-time Housing Studies Undergraduate Degree student; my present final-year dissertation project topic is on the potential impacts of a housing market crash in Hong Kong. As I am interested in using the research philosophy of positivism for my dissertation project. I have a few questions to ask you. 

Finding 1

My first question: "The first question is: what are the main underlying ideas of positivism?"

The reply from the assistant bot: "The main underlying ideas of positivism as a research philosophy are:

Objectivity: Positivists believe that reality is objective and can be observed and measured independently of the researcher. They aim to remain detached and unbiased in their research.

Empiricism: Positivists rely on empirical evidence, such as observations and measurements, to develop and test hypotheses. They believe that knowledge should be based on what can be directly experienced and observed.

Deductivism: Positivists use a deductive approach, starting with general theories or laws and then testing specific hypotheses derived from them. The goal is to explain and predict phenomena.

Determinism: Positivists believe that events are caused by other antecedent events, and that by identifying these causal relationships, we can explain and predict phenomena.

Reductionism: Positivists believe that complex phenomena can be reduced to their fundamental elements and studied in isolation to understand the whole.

Generalization: Positivists aim to develop universal laws and principles that can be applied to a wide range of situations.

In the context of your dissertation project on the potential impacts of a housing market crash in Hong Kong, a positivist approach would focus on collecting and analyzing objective, quantitative data to test hypotheses and identify causal relationships between variables. The goal would be to develop generalizable insights that could be applied to other housing market contexts."

Finding 2

My second question is: "What are the ontological, epistemological and axiological stances of positivism?"

The reply from the assistant bot is: "The ontological, epistemological, and axiological stances of positivism are as follows:

Ontological stance:

Positivism adopts a realist ontology, which assumes that there is an objective reality that exists independently of the observer.

It believes that this reality can be studied and known through scientific inquiry, and that there is a single, universal truth that can be discovered.

Positivists view the world as being composed of discrete, observable events and phenomena that can be measured and quantified.

Epistemological stance:

Positivism holds a foundationalist epistemology, which means that it believes knowledge can be built upon a secure foundation of empirical facts and logical reasoning.

It considers knowledge to be objective, value-free, and verifiable through sensory experience and empirical observation.

Positivists emphasize the importance of using scientific methods, such as experiments and surveys, to collect data and test hypotheses.

They believe that the researcher should maintain an objective, detached stance from the subject of study in order to avoid bias and produce reliable, generalizable findings.

Axiological stance:

Positivists believe in the principle of value-neutrality, which means that research should be conducted in an objective and impartial manner, free from the influence of the researcher's personal values and biases.

They argue that science should be focused on describing and explaining the world as it is, rather than making moral judgments or advocating for specific values or social change.

Positivists hold the view that research should be conducted in a way that maximizes internal and external validity, reliability, and objectivity, in order to produce findings that are generalizable and can be used to make predictions and inform decision-making.

Overall, positivism embraces a scientific, objective, and rationalist approach to the study of social phenomena, with the goal of establishing universal laws and causal explanations that can be used to understand and predict the world."

Finding 3

My third question is: "Could you explain a bit more in the context of doing a dissertation project on the potential impacts of a housing market crash in Hong Kong?"

The reply from the assistant bot is: "Certainly, let me provide more details on how the ontological, epistemological, and axiological stances of positivism would inform a dissertation project on the potential impacts of a housing market crash in Hong Kong:

Ontological stance:

The positivist researcher would assume that there is an objective reality regarding the potential impacts of a housing market crash in Hong Kong, which exists independently of the researcher's own beliefs or perceptions.

The researcher would aim to uncover the "facts" and causal relationships that explain how a housing market crash would impact factors like household finances, quality of life, and economic indicators.

Epistemological stance:

The researcher would adopt a scientific approach, relying on empirical data collection methods such as surveys, interviews, and secondary data analysis to gather information about the potential impacts.

The goal would be to identify patterns, trends, and statistical relationships that can be used to make generalizable claims about the consequences of a housing market crash.

The researcher would strive to maintain an objective, detached stance, separating their personal views from the research process in order to produce reliable and valid findings.

Axiological stance:

The researcher would aim to conduct the study in a value-neutral manner, focusing on describing and explaining the potential impacts rather than making moral judgments or advocating for specific policy responses.

The research would be designed to maximize internal and external validity, ensuring that the findings can be generalized beyond the specific context of Hong Kong and used to inform decision-making by policymakers and stakeholders.

In this context, the positivist researcher would likely employ quantitative methods, such as regression analysis and statistical modeling, to analyze survey data and identify the key factors that predict the potential impacts of a housing market crash. The researcher would seek to establish causal relationships and make objective, evidence-based claims about the likely consequences for individuals, households, and the broader economy in Hong Kong.

The positivist approach would provide a systematic, rigorous, and impartial assessment of the potential impacts, which could then be complemented by qualitative insights from interviews and policy analysis to provide a more holistic understanding of the issue."

Finding 4

My fourth query is: "For doing my dissertation project, I intend to employ interview research, questionnaire survey and desk research linked to positivism. In this case, what would the research design look like for such a dissertation project?"

The reply from the assistant bot: "For a dissertation project on the potential impacts of a housing market crash in Hong Kong, employing a positivist research philosophy with a mixed-methods approach of interviews, questionnaire surveys, and desk research, the research design could look something like this:

Desk Research:

Conduct a comprehensive literature review on housing market crashes, their potential impacts, and how they have played out in different contexts.

Gather secondary data on the Hong Kong housing market, including historical price trends, housing affordability, demographic changes, and relevant economic indicators.

Questionnaire Survey:

Develop a structured questionnaire to collect quantitative data from a representative sample of Hong Kong residents.

The questionnaire could cover topics such as:

Perceptions of housing market risks and crash likelihood

Expected impacts on personal finances, housing affordability, and quality of life

Potential coping strategies and behavioral changes in response to a housing market crash

Use probability sampling techniques to ensure the sample is representative of the Hong Kong population.

Conduct the survey and collect the data.

Interviews:

Conduct in-depth, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, such as:

Real estate experts and housing industry professionals

Policymakers and government officials

Financial analysts and economists

The interviews should aim to:

Explore expert perspectives on the drivers and likelihood of a housing market crash in Hong Kong

Identify potential economic, social, and political impacts

Understand policy considerations and measures that could be implemented to mitigate the effects

Data Analysis:

Analyze the quantitative data from the questionnaire survey using statistical techniques, such as regression analysis, to identify patterns, trends, and relationships between variables.

Analyze the qualitative data from the interviews using thematic analysis to uncover key themes, insights, and expert opinions.

Triangulate the findings from the desk research, questionnaire survey, and interviews to develop a comprehensive understanding of the potential impacts of a housing market crash in Hong Kong.

Integrating the Findings:

Synthesize the results from the different components of the research to answer the key research questions and objectives.

Discuss the implications of the findings for policymakers, housing industry stakeholders, and Hong Kong residents.

Critically evaluate the limitations of the study and provide recommendations for future research.

This mixed-methods research design, grounded in a positivist philosophy, would allow you to collect and analyze both quantitative and qualitative data to develop a thorough understanding of the potential impacts of a housing market crash in Hong Kong."

Finding 5

My fifth query is: "What specific statistical techniques would you recommend for analyzing the questionnaire data?"

The reply from the assistant bot: "For the questionnaire survey data in your dissertation project on the potential impacts of a housing market crash in Hong Kong, I would recommend the following statistical techniques:

Descriptive Statistics:

Calculate measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and dispersion (standard deviation, range) to summarize and describe the key characteristics of the survey responses.

Create frequency distributions and visualizations (e.g., histograms, bar charts) to illustrate the distribution of responses for different survey items.

Inferential Statistics:

Correlation Analysis: Examine the relationships between variables, such as perceptions of housing market risks, expected impacts on personal finances, and demographic characteristics. Use Pearson's correlation coefficient to quantify the strength and direction of these relationships.

Regression Analysis: Employ multiple linear regression to model the relationships between the dependent variable(s) (e.g., expected impacts on quality of life) and the independent variables (e.g., perceptions of housing market risks, household income, age). This can help identify the factors that significantly predict the potential impacts of a housing market crash.

ANOVA (Analysis of Variance): Use one-way or two-way ANOVA to compare the mean responses across different groups (e.g., different age groups, income levels) and determine if there are statistically significant differences in their perceptions and expectations regarding the potential impacts of a housing market crash.

Factor Analysis: If your questionnaire includes a large number of survey items, consider using factor analysis to identify the underlying latent constructs or dimensions that explain the correlations among the variables. This can help reduce the complexity of your data and provide a more parsimonious understanding of the key factors driving the potential impacts of a housing market crash.

Reliability and Validity Assessments:

Evaluate the internal consistency reliability of your questionnaire scales using Cronbach's alpha.

Assess the content validity, construct validity, and criterion-related validity of your questionnaire items to ensure they are effectively measuring the intended concepts.

Handling Missing Data:

Address any missing data in your survey responses using appropriate techniques, such as listwise deletion, pairwise deletion, or imputation methods (e.g., mean imputation, multiple imputation).

These statistical techniques, combined with the qualitative insights from the interviews and the desk research, will allow you to provide a comprehensive and rigorous analysis of the potential impacts of a housing market crash in Hong Kong within a positivist research framework."

Some overall evaluation comments

The advices from the assistant bot are useful, though not sophisticated.

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