A brief teaching note on the research method of archival research

A brief teaching note on the research method of archival research (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "Briefly highlight the main ideas of archival research as a research method in housing studies with reference to the following topics: (1) favored research philosophy, (2) favored research method design techniques, (3) favored research method design quality criteria, (4) favored data analysis techniques, and (5) favored researcher's impression management approach in conducting the archival research."

The reply: "The main ideas of archival research as a research method in housing studies with reference to the specified topics are as follows:

(1) Favored research philosophy: Archival research in housing studies often aligns with an interpretivist or constructivist philosophy, emphasizing the understanding of social, political, and material conditions through historical documents and archives. It views archives as active sites where knowledge is constructed and reconfigured, rather than fixed repositories. This philosophy commonly integrates intersectionality to analyze how overlapping social identities affect housing experiences and inequalities.

(2) Favored research method design techniques: The design involves collecting and assembling diverse archival materials such as drawings, policy documents, historical photographs, media representations, and oral histories. It uses an assemblage approach where these heterogeneous sources are curated and interpreted in layered analyses. The method is flexible, iterative, and often includes digital or immersive tools to reconstruct and reinterpret historical housing projects.

(3) Favored research method design quality criteria: Quality is assessed based on authenticity, credibility, and reflexivity. Researchers critically engage with the archives to expose absences, contradictions, and biases within the historical record. Triangulation of sources and critical historiographical reflection are emphasized to ensure trustworthiness and depth of understanding.

(4) Favored data analysis techniques: Data analysis typically includes thematic interpretation and critical discourse analysis, focusing on mapping patterns of inclusion/exclusion and social inequalities in housing history. Assemblage and layering techniques enable the construction of new narratives that intersect multiple social dimensions such as race, gender, class, and disability.

(5) Favored researcher's impression management approach: Researchers position themselves as active co-constructors of history, managing impressions by practicing critical reflexivity regarding their influence on the interpretation process. They facilitate dialogue between past and present concerns, often engaging public audiences through exhibitions or digital media that make the archival knowledge accessible and relevant.

These ideas reflect an interdisciplinary, critical, and socially conscious approach to archival research in housing studies that seeks to reveal hidden histories and advocate for inclusive understandings of housing environments."

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