Housing Studies Research Methods class [F2F]: Sept – Dec., 2025

 Housing Studies Research Methods class [F2F]: Sept – Dec., 2025

Joseph, K.K. Ho dated: Aug 22, 2025

 

Week	Topic
Wk1	Introduction to the Module and Research Methods 1. The meta-blog articles on all research methods e-resources (videos) 2. Collection of readings on the agile literature review approach for housing studies. 3. Housing studies dissertation report template (for consulting-oriented dissertation type)./ report template (academic oriented type). 4. A collection of readings for the agile literature review approach (academic-oriented dissertation type). 5. A collection of blog notes on AI tools practice on housing studies./ blog notes (informed by perplexity.ai) 6. A collection of brief teaching notes on housing studies research methods. 7. A collection of brief  teaching notes on research methods. Assignments-related readings: * a note on home ownership (HK) * a note on economic trend (HK) * a note on demographic trend (HK) * an article review about HK property market. * an article review about HK housing market and affordability. Some specific topics to cover: * What is plagiarism? (also study the video). * a video on harvard referencing. (also study Leeds Beckett University guidelines).
Wk2	Introduction to Quantitative Methods  – Questionnaire Surveys & Design * Some concept clarification for doing assignments (basic readings) * On research objectives and research questions. * On research methodology and research methods (video resources). * On zoning and basic initial diagramming in the agile literature review approach (housing studies). * Useful video to study in week 2: how HK housing crisis started. * A briefing on assignments 1 and 2.
Wk3	Quantitative methods  – secondary data analysis * a note on research methodology and research method * a note on a cognitive mapping review of a newspaper article on housing affordability (HK). * a note on a cognitive mapping review of a newspaper article on "impact of covid-19 on HK" * Review the video on "how to write a problem statement". * on the first 2 layers of the onion model. * on the scientific process (with deduction and induction) * on two research methods: interview and focus group.
Wk4	Quote and Unquote – Harvard Referencing Skills for Learning * learning on the following research methods: observations, participant observation, survey, action research; also examine the topic of secondary data. Also study the topic of hawthorne studies as related to the research method of observation. * Running a focus group session in classroom. * on the ethnographic approach:  a note.
Wk5	Introduction to Excel statistics functions * A guide to harvard referencing. (video) * Types of plagiarism (video) * How to quote (video) * How to paraphrase (video). * Steps to identify research gap (video). * e-resource on visual research methods. * on action research (history) [video].
Wk6	Excel statistics functions and statistics application * On statistical techniques (on: I. Building blocks at the initial stage and Excel Pivot Table)  [introductory topics are: (1) theories and operational definitions; and (2) data types.] [Next: sampling in qualitative research and probabilistic and non-probabilistic sampling]. On reproducibility in research. * On literature review * On research conceptualization. * On patterns of theoretical frameworks.
Wk7	Introduction to qualitative methods - interviews and desk research. * on hypothesis testing. * on correlation analysis. Some videos to review in class: 1. Scatter plot in Excel. 2a. Steps to formulate a hypothesis. 2b. Introduction to hypothesis testing. 3. Introduction to correlation. 4. Multiple linear regression. 0. Preparatory study materials 1. Multiple regression 2. ANOVA 3. Chi-squared test
Wk8	Qualitative methods – focus groups * continued discussion on correlation and hypothesis testing. * A video on the chi square test.
Wk9	Qualitative methods - Ethnography and participant observation * On research philosophies and favored research methods. * Analysis of anova (overview): video * Anova 1-way (manual calculation) * On central limit theorem (video). * On what is standard deviation (video). * On what is density curve (video). * What is a standard error (video). * On standard normal distribution (video). * p-value for hypothesis testing (video).
Wk10	Qualitative methods – visual methods * teach anova. * on academic writing style * on research methods: pros and cons. * on research methods quality.
Wk11	Choosing appropriate research methods 1 * Data analysis for qualitative research (e-resource).
Wk12	Choosing appropriate research methods 2 / Putting together a dissertation research proposal * a thematic analysis case study on homelessness (a japanese drama)
Wk13	Dissertation report writing skills
Wk14	Tutorial Session

 

Textbook:

Bell, J. 2010. Doing your research project, 5th edition, Open University Press.