A note on the relatedness of dissertation project background, research philosophy and research objectives

A note on the relatedness of dissertation project background, research philosophy and research objectives (information from perplexity.ai)

My question: "How does the dissertation project background (i.e., the relevant academic background (notably on research gaps), the relevant public media-related background (notably on the public media-reported issues) and the researcher's positionality (notably on specific intellectual curiosity, preference and competence) affects the dissertation project choice of research philosophy and the research objective formulation, and vice versa in the context of an MBA and a Housing Studies dissertation project."

The reply: "The dissertation project background—comprising the relevant academic background (including research gaps), public media-reported issues, and the researcher's positionality (their intellectual curiosity, preferences, and competence)—has a significant influence on the choice of research philosophy and the formulation of research objectives. This relationship works bidirectionally, especially in interdisciplinary contexts like MBA and Housing Studies dissertations.

Influence of Dissertation Project Background on Research Philosophy and Objectives

• The academic background, particularly recognized research gaps, helps define the research focus and scope, shaping the broad research aim and specific objectives to address those gaps with relevant theoretical or empirical inquiry.

• Public media-reported issues provide contextual relevance and real-world significance, motivating the choice of a research philosophy that aligns with the nature of the problem—e.g., pragmatism for practical solutions or interpretivism to understand social contexts and narratives.

• The researcher's positionality informs the epistemological position taken. Their intellectual curiosity, preferences, and competence influence whether they lean toward positivism (objective, quantitative), interpretivism (subjective, qualitative), or pragmatism (mixed methods, practical problem-solving). For example, a researcher's closeness to a community (insider positionality) might favor qualitative, participatory methods, while a more distant stance might align more with positivist approaches.

Influence of Research Philosophy and Objectives on Dissertation Background

• The chosen research philosophy anchors the entire research design, including the formulation of objectives that are feasible and coherent within the epistemological framework. For instance, pragmatism emphasizes actionable objectives that address practical problems, often found in MBA dissertations focused on business challenges.

• In turn, carefully formulated research objectives focus the literature review and media analysis to relevant academic gaps and societal issues, thus refining the research background and clarifying the significance of the study.

• The researcher's positionality can also evolve through engagement with the research philosophy and objectives, encouraging reflexivity and adaptation of methodological choices in light of emerging insights.

Context of MBA and Housing Studies Dissertations

• In MBA dissertations, research philosophy often leans toward pragmatism, focusing on real-world business problems with clear, actionable objectives aligned to the strategic aims of organizations or markets.

• Housing Studies dissertations may require more interpretivist or critical realist philosophies to understand complex social phenomena like public housing issues, residents' lived experiences, and policy impacts, necessitating nuanced objectives sensitive to context and participants' perspectives.

• The researcher’s positionality is particularly critical in Housing Studies when conducting participant observation or ethnographic research, as the researcher's identity and stance influence data interpretation and ethical considerations.

In summary, the dissertation project's academic and media context, along with the researcher's positionality, shape the research philosophy by aligning epistemological assumptions with the study's purpose and background. This alignment guides the precise formulation of research objectives. Conversely, the chosen philosophy and objectives refine the understanding and articulation of the project's background and clarify the role of the researcher’s positionality in knowledge production, especially in fields like MBA and Housing Studies where practical relevance and social context are crucial."

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