Saturday, 6 December 2025

Asking generative AI to come up with a Housing Studies proposal with research methods comparison and evaluation: co-living

Asking generative AI to come up with a Housing Studies proposal with research methods comparison and evaluation: on co-living (information from perplexity.ai) (a relevant reading for assignment 2 of my Research methods class)


My question 1: "Please formulate a Housing Studies research theme based on the following keywords: co-living in Hong Kong, shared living spaces, Hong Kong Gen Zs, cultural context."

The reply: "A focused Housing Studies research theme could be:

“Co-living as a culturally embedded housing pathway: how Hong Kong Gen Z negotiate autonomy, family obligations and community in shared living spaces.”

Core focus

This theme positions co-living not just as an affordability or supply-side innovation, but as a socially and culturally situated way for Hong Kong Gen Z to leave (or semi-leave) the parental home while still navigating strong norms of filial piety, intergenerational co-residence and dense urban living. It invites attention to how shared living spaces reshape everyday practices, privacy, sociality and identity for young adults who grew up in small flats and highly family-centric environments.

Key angles within the theme

  • How Gen Z residents understand “home” and “independence” when they move into co-living rather than traditional rentals or public housing

  • Tensions and accommodations between communal norms in shared spaces and Chinese/Hong Kong cultural expectations around gender, modesty, family reputation and guest policies

  • The role of co-living operators’ branding (community, lifestyle, flexibility) in attracting Gen Z, and how these narratives align or clash with residents’ lived experiences

  • Ways in which co-living may reproduce, soften or intensify existing inequalities in Hong Kong’s housing system, especially for youth without strong family support or inheritance prospects

Possible refinements

Depending on your methodological and philosophical preferences, you could narrow this into, for example:

  • “Narratives of home and adulthood among Hong Kong Gen Z residents in commercial co-living spaces”

  • “Cultural norms, family expectations and everyday life in co-living arrangements among Hong Kong young adults”

  • “From bedroom to shared hub: how Hong Kong Gen Z reconfigure privacy and community in co-living environments”."


My question 2: "Based on the research theme proposed above and the research philosophy of pragmatism, please come up with a preliminary dissertation proposal with the following items: dissertation title, 2 housing issues, 3 research objectives, 3 research questions, 2 primary research methods to use to address each of the 2 housing issues (i.e. 2 research methods to address housing issue 1; 2 research methods to address housing issue 2). Also briefly comment on the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the mutual complementarity of these research methods."

The reply: "Dissertation Title

Co-Living as a Culturally Embedded Housing Pathway: Hong Kong Gen Z's Negotiation of Autonomy, Family Obligations, and Community in Shared Living Spaces.​

Housing Issues

  • Issue 1: Housing Affordability and Delayed Independence
    Hong Kong Gen Z faces extreme rental costs and small family flats, pushing co-living as a pragmatic entry to independent living amid intergenerational co-residence norms.​
    This delays traditional milestones like leaving home fully while testing cultural tensions around filial piety.​

  • Issue 2: Cultural Fit of Shared Spaces
    Co-living imports Western communal models into Hong Kong's high-density, family-centric context, raising questions on privacy, gender norms, and community building for Gen Z.​
    Operators' lifestyle branding may clash with local expectations of modesty and family reputation.​

Research Objectives

  • To examine how co-living addresses affordability barriers for Hong Kong Gen Z while navigating family obligations.​

  • To explore cultural adaptations in shared spaces, including privacy and sociality practices.​

  • To identify practical policy implications for scaling co-living as a youth housing solution.​

Research Questions

  • How do Hong Kong Gen Z residents in co-living spaces balance economic independence with cultural family duties?

  • In what ways do shared living arrangements reshape notions of privacy, community, and identity within Hong Kong's cultural context?

  • What practical enhancements to co-living models could better align with Gen Z needs and local norms?.​

Research Methods

For Housing Issue 1 (Affordability and Delayed Independence):

  • Semi-structured interviews with 20-25 Gen Z co-living residents to capture personal narratives on costs, family dynamics, and independence pathways.

  • Surveys of 100+ Gen Z residents measuring affordability metrics, move-in triggers, and satisfaction levels.​

For Housing Issue 2 (Cultural Fit of Shared Spaces):

  • Ethnographic observations in 3-5 co-living sites over 3 months, noting daily interactions, space use, and cultural negotiations.

  • Focus groups with 4-6 groups of 6-8 residents each to discuss communal norms, conflicts, and adaptations.​

Method Strengths, Weaknesses, and Complementarity

Pragmatism supports mixed methods for practical insights, as seen in housing studies blending qual-quant approaches. Interviews and surveys (Issue 1) offer depth (rich stories) and breadth (patterns), but risk bias or low response; their complementarity triangulates personal experiences with trends for robust affordability evidence. Observations and focus groups (Issue 2) yield contextual richness (behaviors) and group dynamics (consensus), though time-intensive or dominant-voice risks exist; together, they validate cultural tensions through lived actions and collective views. Overall, pairing qual-quant per issue ensures pragmatic problem-solving without paradigmatic constraints."


My question 3: "Please provide 5 relevant academic references and 5 non-academic references in Harvard reference format for the proposal above."

The reply: "

Academic References

Non-Academic References



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