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

  

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 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. * Lecture note on research types * 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
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 * 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 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 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 * A brief note on the main secondary research methods * 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 of theory-decomposing on the housing deficit theory * A note of concept-decomposing on residential alienation
Wk6: Nov. 3 (Tue) 7-10pm.	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
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

 

Reference

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