Housing Studies Research Methods class [F2F]: Sept, 2026 – Jan., 2027

Housing Studies Research Methods class [F2F]: Sept, 2026 – Jan., 2027

Joseph, K.K. Ho dated: September 12, 2026                                               (%Aibe0110%)

  

Week

Topic

Wk1: Sept. 29 (Tue)

7-10pm.

Introduction to the Module and Research Methods

On specifying dissertation project background, research objectives and research types

* a note on social science, social science research and dissertation project.

* A note on the basic terms used in Housing Study dissertation projects

* A note on the main housing issues of Hong Kong in 2026/ also study a note on singlehood.

* A note on housing issues, research issues, research gaps and public media-reported issues

* A clarification on the Housing Studies terms of "housing issues", "research issues," and "public media-reported issues"

* An exploratory study on nano flats in Hong Kong

* An exploratory exercise to study the research theme of urban redevelopment with reference to housing studies

** An exploratory study on the theme of housing need of gen y middle-class citizens.

** An exploratory study on the research theme of "mortgage slave" and the formulation of a proposal.

** An example of formulating a dissertation proposal based on pragmatism: on housing preferences.

** An example of using a news article to produce a proposal prototype.

** An example of formulating and evaluating research method design for 2 Housing Studies dissertation proposals based on different research philosophies

* Lecture note on research types/ and also a note on research philosophies.

* Lecture note on evaluation research for housing studies dissertation project study

* Lecture note on descriptive research for housing studies dissertation project study

* A note on the research philosophy-type grid

* To introduce the subject using two notes on academic article review: note 1; note 2.


Session

Wk2: Oct. 6 (Tue)

7-10pm.

On research philosophies, research methodology and research approaches

* Lecture note on interpretivism for housing studies dissertation project study

* A brief teaching note on realism and anti-realism

* A note on idealism and realism

* A note on positivism and post-positivism

* A note on how a research philosophy can influence the formulation of a dissertation proposal/ also study some basic topics in philosophy: ontology, epistemology and axiology.

* Lecture notes on the topics of ontology, epistemology and axiology in Housing Studies dissertation study

* A note on using the inductive and the deductive approaches in analyzing qualitative research findings

* A note on the steps involved in analyzing interview transcripts with theories: about research approaches.

* A note on research methodology: a clarification

** A note on research methodology (detailed)

* A briefing on assignments 1 and 2.

* Asking generative AI to formulate a Housing Studies dissertation proposal with 2 research issues and research methods comparison: example 1

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



** A collection of brief teaching notes for the Housing Studies research methods students

Wk3: Oct. 13 (Tue)

7-10pm.

* On research approaches: a note.

* On a set of key introductory topics in research methods: lecture note.


On AI augmented learning to support research methods learning I

* A note on AI augmented learning for part-time Housing Studies students

* A note on appropriate and inappropriate employment of generative AI to support Housing Studies students’ doing dissertation projects

Introduction to Quantitative Methods  – Questionnaire Surveys & Design

Structured observation

* A brief teaching note on structured observation as a research methods

Wk4: Oct. 20 (Tue)

7-10pm.

Quantitative methods  – secondary data analysis

** key research methods topics note II.

** a note on research methodology and strategy: some examples.

** a note on specific research methodologies in Housing Studies.

* A brief note on the main secondary research methods

* A note on narrative investigation using secondary data.

* A note on intersectionality and multidimensional data analysis

Quote and Unquote – Harvard Referencing

Wk5: Oct. 27 (Tue)

7-10pm.

Introduction to Excel statistics functions

Skills for Learning: (i) on AI augmented learning to support research methods learning II and (ii) how to study academic articles


** a note on qualitative data analysis.

** a note on quantitative data analysis.

* A note of theory-decomposing on the housing deficit theory

* A note of concept-decomposing on residential alienation

Wk6: Nov. 3 (Tue)

7-10pm.

** A note on action research

** A note on autophotography as a research method

** A note on qualitative content analysis.

** A comparison of the case study research strategy and the case study (secondary research method).

** An exercise to classify research methods as primary or secondary.

** A note on ethical and legal considerations in Housing Studies research methods practices


Excel statistics functions and statistics application

Wk7: Nov. 10 (Tue)

7-10pm.

Introduction to qualitative methods - interviews and secondary (qualitative) data analysis

* A brief note on narrative in narrative interview

* A brief note on theoretical sampling and purposeful sampling

* A note on the concepts in thematic analysis with illustrative examples

* On the method-decomposing of reflect thematic analysis

Wk8: Nov. 17 (Tue)

7-10pm.

Qualitative methods – focus groups

 * A note on how to moderate a focus group

A briefing on the hermeneutic circle

Wk9: Nov. 24 (Tue)

7-10pm.

Qualitative methods - Ethnography and participant observation

 A briefing on the topic of Verstehen

* A lecture note on Verstehen

* A note on the straightforward steps involved in the conduct of participant observation

* A brief note on what activities need to be done to actually practice participant observation

* An example of how to conduct a phenomenological analysis on a research interview transcript

* A brief illustration on how to analyze the three layers of reality of critical realism using the research theme of "the confidence to purchase a residential apartment by social class"

Wk10: Dec. 1 (Tue)

7-10pm.

Qualitative methods – visual methods

* A note on visual methodologies

On archival methods/ historical methods

* A study note on the research methods used in historical study: for Housing Studies students (on housing policy)

* A brief teaching note on the research method of archival research 

On case study as a secondary research method

* A note on case study as a secondary research method

Wk11: Dec. 8 (Tue)

7-10pm.

Choosing appropriate research methods 1

* On research instruments in Housing Studies dissertation projects

On how to evaluate research method quality

* A briefing on qualitative and quantitative research method criteria

* An example of evaluating a Housing Studies proposal research method design in terms of research methods design quality criteria

Wk12: Dec. 15 (Tue)

7-10pm.

Choosing appropriate research methods 2 / Putting together a dissertation research proposal

* On research method design specification

* A study note on research theme, research issues, research approaches and research methods

Wk13: Dec. 29 (Tue)

7-10pm.

Dissertation report writing skills

* An example of evaluating the academic writing style of an article: on policy impact analysis

* An example of evaluating the academic writing style of an article: on residential care homes

* Table of content template for Housing Studies academic-oriented dissertation projects

On research ethics

* Lecture note on research ethics issues and advices

Wk14: Jan 5 (Tue)

7-10pm.

Tutorial Session

* A note on the Socratic method of questioning.

 

re: josephho

Reference

* A collection of blog notes on perplexity usage: for Housing Studies students

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