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

Asking chatgpt to clarify interpretivism 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 interpretivism.

Introduction

I am a part-time Housing Studies Undergraduate Degree student; my present final-year dissertation project topic is on differences of life meanings of home ownership by gender and age groups  in Hong Kong. As I am interested in using the research philosophy of interpretivism 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 interpretivism?"

The reply from the assistant bot: "The main underlying ideas of the interpretivist research philosophy are:

Subjectivity: Interpretivists believe that reality is socially constructed and depends on the perspectives and experiences of the individuals involved. They focus on understanding the subjective meanings that people attach to their social world.

Contextual Understanding: Interpretivists emphasize the importance of understanding phenomena within their specific contexts. They argue that human behavior and the meanings people give to their actions can only be properly understood by considering the social, cultural, and historical contexts in which they occur.

Inductive Approach: Interpretivists typically follow an inductive approach, moving from specific observations to broader themes and patterns, rather than testing pre-existing theories or hypotheses.

Empathetic Stance: Interpretivists aim to understand the world from the perspective of the research participants. They seek to empathize with and interpret the meanings that people ascribe to their experiences.

Flexibility and Emergent Design: Interpretivist research is often characterized by a more flexible and emergent research design, allowing the researcher to adapt and respond to new insights and understandings that arise during the research process.

Idiographic Focus: Interpretivists are concerned with the unique, the particular, and the individual, rather than seeking to identify universal laws or generalizations.

These underlying ideas suggest that interpretivism is well-suited for your dissertation project, as it allows you to explore the subjective and contextual meanings that people attach to home ownership in Hong Kong, considering the experiences and perspectives of different gender and age groups."

Finding 2

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

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

Ontological Stance:

Interpretivists have a relativist ontology, believing that reality is socially constructed and there are multiple, subjective realities.

They view the social world as constantly changing, with individuals and groups creating and re-creating their social reality.

Epistemological Stance:

Interpretivists have a subjectivist epistemology, believing that knowledge is created through the interactions between the researcher and the research participants.

They aim to understand the meanings and interpretations that people give to their experiences and the social world.

The researcher is seen as an integral part of the research process, rather than a detached, objective observer.

Axiological Stance:

Interpretivists acknowledge the influence of values on the research process and recognize that research is value-laden.

They believe that the researcher's own values, beliefs, and biases inevitably shape the research process and the knowledge produced.

Interpretivists strive for transparency about their values and how they may have influenced the research.

They often seek to emancipate and empower research participants by giving voice to their experiences and perspectives.

These ontological, epistemological, and axiological stances align well with your dissertation project, as they allow you to explore the subjective and contextual meanings of home ownership for different gender and age groups in Hong Kong, while acknowledging the influence of your own values and biases on the research process."

Finding 3

My third query is: "For doing my dissertation project, I intend to employ in-depth interview research, focus group and desk research linked to interpretivism. In this case, what would the research design look like for such a dissertation project?"

The reply from the assistant bot: "Given your intention to employ in-depth interviews, focus groups, and desk research for your dissertation project informed by the interpretivist research philosophy, the research design could look something like this:

Literature Review and Desk Research:

Conduct a comprehensive review of existing literature on the meanings of home ownership, with a focus on gender and age-related differences in Hong Kong.

Gather and analyze relevant secondary data, such as government reports, academic papers, and industry publications, to develop a deeper understanding of the context and existing knowledge in this area.

Qualitative Data Collection:

In-depth Interviews:

Recruit a diverse sample of participants representing different gender and age groups in Hong Kong.

Conduct one-on-one, semi-structured interviews to explore the subjective meanings and lived experiences of home ownership for each participant.

Use open-ended questions and probes to encourage participants to share their personal narratives and perspectives.

Focus Groups:

Organize focus group discussions with participants from different gender and age groups.

Facilitate discussions to elicit group dynamics, shared understandings, and contrasting viewpoints on the meanings of home ownership.

Observe and record the interactions and discussions within the focus groups.

Data Analysis:

Transcribe the interview and focus group recordings verbatim.

Employ thematic analysis to identify recurring themes, patterns, and divergent perspectives within the data.

Interpret the findings by considering the social, cultural, and historical contexts that shape the participants' experiences and understandings.

Use constant comparison and iterative analysis to refine the emerging themes and develop a nuanced understanding of the research topic.

Ethical Considerations:

Obtain informed consent from all participants and ensure their privacy and confidentiality are protected.

Acknowledge your own biases and positionality, and reflect on how they may have influenced the research process and findings.

Consider the potential impact of the research on the participants and the broader community, and strive to empower and emancipate the voices of marginalized groups.

Presentation of Findings:

Integrate the insights from the literature review, in-depth interviews, and focus groups to present a rich, contextual understanding of the differences in the meanings of home ownership by gender and age groups in Hong Kong.

Use thick descriptions, direct quotes, and interpretive analysis to convey the subjective experiences and perspectives of the participants.

Discuss the theoretical and practical implications of the findings, and suggest areas for future research.

This research design aligns with the interpretivist philosophy by emphasizing the subjective, contextual, and empathetic exploration of the research topic, while acknowledging the role of the researcher and ethical considerations throughout the process."

Finding 4

My fourth question is: "What specific themes should I focus on during the thematic analysis phase?"

The reply from the assistant bot is: "When conducting thematic analysis for your dissertation project on the differences in the meanings of home ownership by gender and age groups in Hong Kong, you can focus on the following key themes:

Conceptions of Home Ownership:

Explore how participants define and understand the concept of home ownership.

Examine the personal, social, and cultural significance they attribute to home ownership.

Investigate the perceived benefits, challenges, and emotional associations with home ownership.

Gender Differences:

Understand how the meanings and experiences of home ownership differ between men and women.

Explore the potential influence of gender roles, expectations, and societal norms on the conceptualization of home ownership.

Investigate the unique challenges or advantages that women may face in the context of home ownership.

Age-related Differences:

Examine how the meanings and experiences of home ownership vary across different age groups (e.g., young adults, middle-aged, older adults).

Explore the potential influence of life stage, changing priorities, and generational differences on the conceptualization of home ownership.

Investigate the unique challenges or advantages that different age groups may face in the context of home ownership.

Intersectionality:

Explore the interplay between gender and age in shaping the meanings and experiences of home ownership.

Investigate how other intersecting factors, such as socioeconomic status, education, or cultural background, may further influence the conceptualization of home ownership.

Understand the nuanced and complex ways in which various identities and social positions shape the participants' perspectives on home ownership.

Contextual Factors:

Examine the broader social, cultural, economic, and political contexts that may shape the meanings and experiences of home ownership in Hong Kong.

Investigate the potential influence of factors such as housing policies, market dynamics, and cultural norms on the participants' conceptualizations of home ownership.

Understand how the local context of Hong Kong may uniquely impact the research topic.

Aspirations and Lived Experiences:

Explore the participants' aspirations, goals, and expectations related to home ownership.

Investigate the discrepancies, if any, between the participants' idealized notions of home ownership and their lived experiences.

Understand how the participants navigate and make sense of any gaps between their expectations and realities.

By focusing on these key themes during the thematic analysis phase, you can develop a rich, contextual understanding of the differences in the meanings of home ownership by gender and age groups in Hong Kong, aligned with the interpretivist research philosophy."

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.