Log in

Create a user profile using your existing professional profile on LinkedIn, Academia, or ResearchGate.


Alternatively, register a username and password to start an account.


By creating an account you will be able to contribute articles, engage in discussion groups, network with fellow professionals and businesses, and receive interest-related alerts.

Forgot Password

Please enter your email address below and you will receive a temporary link to re-activate your account

Mapping housing research methods

Enhancing the link between research theory and methods in African housing studies

Article image

Mark Napier, Beth Crankshaw

25 October 2018

Jeremy Gibberd, Lorato Motsatsi

English

Mark Napier, Beth Crankshaw

Conference paper

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

Africa

Relevant, empirical research creates the foundation for better informed decisions. Poor research that employs inappropriate methods or is without a broader theoretical foundation can lead to poor decision making and the misallocation of resources.
 

This paper and accompanying presentation seek to make a methodological contribution by improving our understanding of the potential range of housing research methods, and how housing theory can and should link to choice of method. The paper reviews a number of methodological frameworks with the purpose of identifying what was regarded as conventional housing research, and then to explore potential emerging areas of research methodology that would be useful in advancing housing studies.
 

By mapping housing research methods, it becomes more feasible to relate research objectives, in each case, to the more rigorous selection of appropriate research methods and mixes of methods to satisfy those objectives. The broader goal is to contribute to a process of more deliberately establishing housing research as a science so as to meet the growing complexity of the housing challenges that the continent faces, and to build innovation for inclusive development.

The paper was presented at the Out-Of-The Box 2018 Conference, CSIR Knowledge Commons, CSIR, Pretoria, 24-25 October 2018.

The authors then teamed up with a wider group to develop these ideas into a paper for publication. This came out in 2022 as A typology of designs for housing research: improving methodological coherence of paradigm, approach and design.

Built environment

Housing

Human settlements

Livelihoods

Markets

Methodology

Policy

Poverty & inequality

Research

Rights

South Africa

Urban

View Contributors:

Comments

No comments available
LOAD MORE