A study note on research theme, research issues, research approaches and research methods: for the Housing Studies students: 01

A study note on research theme, research issues, research approaches and research methods: for the Housing Studies students (information from perplexity.ai): 01

[related to course assignment 2, 2025]

My question 1: "I have a few questions about my Housing Dissertation: my research theme is: the liveability of subdivided flats in Hong Kong in 2025". I intend to conduct a mixed methods research, based on pragmatism and I will use both a questionnaire survey and a focus group, as my main primary research methods. With this information, could you come up with a dissertation proposal to me with: a dissertation title, 2 research issues as derived from my research theme, 3 related research objectives, and the two more clearly developed research methods design on the questionnaire survey and the focus group. Also consider to apply 2 relevant Housing Studies theories to inform this study."

The reply: "Here is a dissertation proposal outline based on your research theme, mixed methods approach, and pragmatist philosophy.

Dissertation Title:

Liveability and Resident Experiences of Subdivided Flats in Hong Kong: A Mixed-Methods Study in 2025

Research Issues:

• What are the key factors affecting the liveability of subdivided flats in Hong Kong in 2025?

• How do residents’ perceptions and experiences of liveability vary, and what are their priorities for improvement?

Research Objectives:

• To identify and quantify the major liveability challenges faced by residents living in subdivided flats through a structured questionnaire survey.

• To explore residents’ subjective experiences, coping strategies, and expectations regarding liveability in subdivided flats via focus group discussions.

• To integrate quantitative and qualitative findings to provide holistic insights and practical recommendations for housing policy and design improvements.

Research Methods Design:

Questionnaire Survey

• Design: A cross-sectional structured questionnaire with both closed-ended and Likert-scale questions to measure dimensions of liveability such as space adequacy, safety, ventilation, hygiene, accessibility, and community cohesion.

• Sampling: Stratified random sampling across representative districts with a high prevalence of subdivided flats, targeting 150–200 residents to ensure statistical generalizability.

• Data analysis: Descriptive statistics, factor analysis to identify key liveability factors, and correlation/regression to explore relationships between demographic variables and liveability scores.

Focus Group

• Design: Semi-structured focus groups with 6–8 subdivided flat residents per group, facilitated with open-ended questions exploring lived experiences, challenges, adaptive behaviours, and hopes for housing improvements.

• Recruitment: Purposive sampling to include diverse age groups, genders, and length of residency in subdivided flats, with 3–4 focus groups planned for in-depth qualitative insight.

• Data analysis: Thematic analysis to capture nuanced perceptions, identify common and divergent themes, and contextualize quantitative results from the survey.

Relevant Housing Studies Theories to Inform the Study:

• The Theory of Housing Liveability: Focuses on objective and subjective dimensions of housing quality, including physical conditions, socio-cultural environment, and psychological well-being, offering a comprehensive framework to assess liveability.

• Social Production of Space (Lefebvre): Explores how space is socially constructed and experienced, highlighting the interplay between physical space constraints and residents’ social and cultural practices in subdivided flats."

My question 2: "For the above proposal, if I change the research methods to structured observation and the photovoice interview research methods, what would the proposal looks like? And also compare the research methods strengths and weaknesses of these two research proposals."

The reply: "Here is your revised dissertation proposal incorporating structured observation and photovoice interviews, followed by a comparison of strengths and weaknesses between the original (questionnaire + focus group) and revised (structured observation + photovoice) research methods.

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Revised Dissertation Proposal

Dissertation Title:

Liveability and Resident Experiences of Subdivided Flats in Hong Kong: An Observational and Photovoice Study in 2025

Research Issues:

• What observable environmental and spatial characteristics influence the liveability of subdivided flats in Hong Kong?

• How do residents visually represent and narrate their lived experiences and challenges of living in subdivided flats?

Research Objectives:

• To systematically document and analyze the physical and environmental conditions of subdivided flats through structured observation.

• To empower residents to express their experiences and perceptions of liveability using photovoice, combining photography and interview narratives.

• To integrate observational data with residents’ visual and verbal accounts to provide deeper insights into the socio-spatial realities of subdivided flat living.

Research Methods Design:

Structured Observation

• Design: A standardized observation checklist developed to capture key elements such as space layout, cleanliness, ventilation, lighting, privacy, safety hazards, and communal facilities within subdivided flats.

• Sampling: Observation of 20–30 subdivided flats selected through purposive sampling in diverse districts with varying socioeconomic profiles.

• Data analysis: Quantitative coding of checklist items for descriptive statistics, supplemented with field notes to record contextual details.

Photovoice Interview

• Design: Residents are invited to take photographs reflecting their daily living environment and issues affecting liveability, followed by in-depth interviews to discuss these images and narratives.

• Recruitment: Purposive sampling of 15–20 residents willing to participate in photovoice, ensuring diversity in age, gender, and flat type.

• Data analysis: Thematic analysis of interview transcripts linked to photographic data, capturing subjective meanings and emotional responses related to housing conditions.

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Comparison of Research Methods Strengths and Weaknesses 

Aspect	Questionnaire + Focus Group	Structured Observation + Photovoice
Data Type	Quantitative + Qualitative; numeric ratings + group discussion insights	Quantitative (observational coding) + qualitative visual and narrative data
Resident Voice	Direct verbal expression and collective dialogue	Resident-generated visual data and personalized narratives
Depth of Insight	Focus groups allow rich discussion but may be limited by group dynamics and social desirability	Photovoice allows deep, personal storytelling and creative expression; observation captures actual environmental conditions
Researcher Role	Facilitator/interviewer focusing on verbal data collection	Observer documenting reality; participant as a co-researcher via photovoice
Bias and Limitations	Survey responses may be influenced by self-report bias; focus group may suppress dissenting voices	Observation limited to observable phenomena (may miss subjective experience); photovoice requires participant engagement and camera use skills
Logistics	Survey and focus groups can be scheduled and controlled; easier to reach larger samples	Observation time-intensive; photovoice requires training and multiple interactions with participants
Policy/Design Relevance	Provides generalizable data and communal views suitable for policy	Offers contextualized, grounded insights connecting lived experience and physical environment for nuanced interventions

 

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