A note on deep reading: for MBA and Housing Studies students

A note on deep reading: for MBA and Housing Studies students (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "What is deep reading all about with reference to the literature review task of MBA and Housing Studies dissertation projects?"

The reply: "Deep reading in the context of literature review tasks for MBA and Housing Studies dissertation projects involves a thorough, critical, and analytical engagement with existing research literature rather than just summarizing it. It is about deeply understanding the theories, methodologies, and findings of prior studies to construct a coherent narrative that positions your research within the ongoing academic conversation. This process includes identifying patterns, inconsistencies, theoretical implications, and most importantly, gaps or unresolved issues in the literature that your study can address.

For MBA dissertations, the literature review backed by deep reading is the backbone of the dissertation. It requires a strategic approach where you critically analyze and synthesize existing knowledge to build a strong conceptual foundation for your research. The goal is to demonstrate your expert understanding of the topic, how it has evolved, and where your contribution fits in. Deep reading helps you move beyond mere description to engage analytically, recognizing shifts in discussions and debates over time.

Similarly, for Housing Studies dissertation projects, deep reading supports selecting and integrating a theoretical framework that underpins your research. It involves mapping relationships among concepts, evaluating conflicts and controversies in the field, and identifying research gaps. This reading approach helps to create a structured literature review that aligns well with your theoretical perspective and research questions, enhancing the clarity and impact of your dissertation.

Overall, deep reading is about becoming both an analyst and a narrator of scholarly work, enabling you to build a well-structured, critical, and meaningful literature review that lays the groundwork for your dissertation research in both MBA and Housing Studies contexts. This approach is essential to produce a literature review that is more than a summary—it is a scholarly dialogue reflecting your understanding and contribution to the field."

My question 2: "Briefly describe the history of development of the concept of deep reading."

The reply: "The concept of deep reading was first coined by Sven Birkerts in his 1994 book The Gutenberg Elegies. Deep reading refers to the slow, meditative, and thoughtful engagement with a text that enhances comprehension and enjoyment, contrasting with superficial or skim reading. It involves higher-level cognitive processes such as inferential and deductive reasoning, critical analysis, reflection, and insight.

Historically, concerns about the depth of reading date back to ancient times, such as the transition from oral to written culture. For example, Plato's Socrates worried that literacy might weaken memory and critical thinking because people might mistake written text for absolute truth rather than the beginning of inquiry. Modern scholarship, including work by Maryanne Wolf, highlights that deep reading is a complex skill involving multiple brain functions and is essential for contemplative and analytical thinking.

Deep reading has thus evolved as a critical concept that underscores the importance of immersive and reflective reading for intellectual development, especially in an age where digital media can encourage more superficial reading habits. It is particularly valued in academic disciplines for facilitating critical understanding and knowledge creation."

My question 3: "Offer 6 main advices that enable deep reading with reference to our topic of discussion on literature review."

The reply: "Here are 6 main advice points to enable deep reading, specifically for effective literature review work in MBA and Housing Studies dissertations:

1. Prepare and Focus Your Reading Purposefully
   Before reading, clarify what information you aim to extract and how it relates to your research. Use highlighting, annotating, and questioning to keep your focus and actively engage with the material rather than passively reading.

2. Critically Compare and Evaluate Sources
   Systematically examine arguments, methodologies, evidence, and conclusions across multiple texts. Identify areas of agreement, contradictions, and gaps to build a richer perspective and develop a critical synthesis.

3. Reflect, Connect, and Revisit
   Regularly reflect on the content's relevance and validity in relation to your research topic. Make concept maps or notes to visualize connections and revisit challenging sections to deepen understanding.

4. Engage Actively with the Text
   Read interactively by questioning assumptions, noting your own reactions and doubts, and seeking alternative viewpoints. This helps to form a nuanced understanding and prepares you to challenge existing work.

5. Practice Slow and Repetitive Reading
   Take time to re-read key passages, pause to absorb meanings, and relate new insights to your experiences and study context. Slow reading fosters emotional and intellectual engagement essential for deep comprehension.

6. Continuously Relate Reading to Your Research Goals
   Always link the material back to your research questions or hypotheses, evaluating how each source supports or challenges your study. This alignment guides a coherent, well-structured literature review.

Following these approaches will build a strong foundation for conducting a literature review that is analytical, insightful, and well-integrated into your dissertation work. Deep reading transforms reading from mere information gathering to a reflective, critical, and productive academic practice."

My question 4: "How does deep reading help in identifying gaps and forming new research questions?"

The reply: "Deep reading helps in identifying gaps and forming new research questions in the following ways:

1. Uncovers Unaddressed Issues
   By reading deeply and critically, researchers become aware of what has been studied extensively and where there is a lack of coverage or unresolved problems in the existing literature. This points directly to research gaps that need investigation.

2. Promotes Questioning and Curiosity
   Deep reading encourages asking “why,” “how,” “what if,” and “what else” type questions about the theories, methods, and findings presented in studies. Such questioning leads to the discovery of overlooked or underexplored aspects.

3. Enables Comparison of Perspectives
   By thoroughly analyzing different works, deep reading reveals conflicting results, contradictory explanations, or methodological limitations that signal opportunities for new research.

4. Facilitates Synthesis of Multiple Texts
   Deep readers synthesize evidence across various studies, which can highlight gaps when patterns or connections are missing. This synthesis includes identifying inconsistencies and pointing to areas needing further exploration.

5. Leads to New Angles and Innovative Approaches
   Engaging critically with literature often sparks ideas for novel methodologies, populations, or theoretical frameworks that previous research has not applied, thereby shaping original research questions.

6. Supports Focused and Relevant Research Questions
   A well-grounded understanding through deep reading ensures that questions formulated are not only based on identified gaps but also tailored to contribute meaningfully to the academic dialogue.

In sum, deep reading enriches the initial literature survey into an insightful process that exposes gaps, provokes critical inquiry, and inspires the development of thoughtful, relevant new research questions essential for rigorous MBA and Housing Studies dissertations."

My question 5: "How can identifying personal biases enhance deep reading skills in literature review?"

The reply: "Identifying personal biases can significantly enhance deep reading skills in literature review by:

1. Increasing Objectivity
   Recognizing your own feelings, assumptions, and preconceptions helps to approach texts more objectively. This openness allows you to critically assess the literature without premature judgments or filtering based on personal preferences.

2. Facilitating Critical Engagement
   Awareness of biases encourages questioning and challenging the texts rather than passively accepting information. It enables you to detect limitations, inconsistencies, or overlooked perspectives in the literature.

3. Encouraging Open-mindedness and Mental Flexibility
   Being conscious of your biases prepares you to revise or update your mental models when confronted with new evidence or arguments, which is key to forming nuanced understanding and insights.

4. Improving Analytical Depth
   Identifying biases allows for a deeper interaction with the content where you contrast your initial assumptions with the actual findings, leading to more thorough analysis and critical synthesis.

5. Promoting Empathy and Multiple Perspectives
   Recognizing bias fosters empathy by encouraging you to understand differing viewpoints and incorporate a broader range of perspectives, which enriches the literature review quality.

6. Supporting Reflection and Personal Growth
   Acknowledging biases is part of reflective thinking that transforms reading into a personal and intellectual journey, enhancing both the researcher's agency and the quality of the review.

In summary, identifying personal biases adds a layer of self-awareness that strengthens critical thinking and reflective skills essential for deep reading, resulting in a more rigorous, balanced, and insightful literature review."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.