This thesis doesn’t test a particular hypothesis, yet the literature review is an important aspect of any process. At times incidentally and other times explicitly, my research has been motivated by the methodological approach of grounded theory. Grounded theory requires a researcher to develop categories from empirical data, identifies additional data along the categories and tells a story around a “central phenomenon” being investigated (Creswell, 2007). As described by Dunne (2011), there is a robust debate over the role of literature among researchers who employ grounded theory. In this approach, theories generated from empirical data are privileged over existing theoretical frameworks, and such a literature review can prevent an unfettered discovery process (Glaser & Strauss, 2012). In conducting my research, I have continued to review literature after the initial research proposal. This allows my research to have a non-trivial degree of breadth, and the expectation of comprehensiveness when conducting research in community development where economics, public policy, psychology, building systems and demography may all bear on the subject at hand.
Tag Archives: Methodology
Development of Strategic Plan
The final part of the research process was developing a strategic plan for two- to four-unit buildings, addressing the challenges identified in the key findings and building on the opportunities. The strategic plan was created through a fairly informal process. Many of the recommendations were recorded in a journal during various parts of the research process. Juxtaposing both the key findings and the recommendations, strategic outcomes were selected that met the criteria as visions. The recommendations were organized into more direct and measurable objectives. Final implementation steps revolved around prioritizing each recommendation by the perceived amount of effort required and a grouping of general priority attached to each.
The Strategic Outcomes are listed below
- Stabilization – A stabilized, well-functioning property market for two- to four-unit properties
- Advocacy – Policies and organizational infrastructures better aligned for addressing the unique challenges of two- to four-unit properties
- Loan Fund and Financial Assistance – Interested and current homeowners in Woodlawn have adequate financial resources to invest into two- to four-unit properties
- Assistance and Counseling – Interested and current homeowners in Woodlawn have adequate technical assistance and counseling to invest into two- to four-unit properties
- Responsible Development – Current residents have pathways to build wealth through local economic development and pathways to homeownership, while diverse rental products and necessary amenities attract newer (moderate income) residents.
Development of Key Findings
The next stage of my research was identifying the most important findings and implications of the data collected and analyzed along the analytical frame. First, using a traditional strategy of qualitative research, I kept a journal of emerging patterns throughout the process. This journal was most active throughout the several months of translating interviews into the detailed a case study using the aforementioned analytical frame. When each interview was entered in the database, I often summarized emerging themes that would only become more prominent. These preliminary findings were grouped in evolving categories of real estate development, community development and public policy. My intention was to recognize the multi-faceted nature of two- to four-unit properties and consider different approaches in developing recommendations. To systematically uncover additional findings not readily apparently during earlier parts of the research process, I performed a SWOT analysis within these categories, considering existing “strengths” and “weaknesses” specific to Woodlawn or two- to four-unit properties, as well as “opportunities” and “threats” originating elsewhere. With a comprehensive list of important findings, the last two steps were revisiting the four research questions as a means for selecting the findings that were relevant, organizing them, and isolating each finding into an observation and its implication.
Data Collection
Interviews
During January 2013, I conducted over 12 hours of formal and informal interviews with approximately 20 persons over the course of three weeks in Chicago. Using prior contacts and contextual knowledge during my time as an intern at POAH, I developed a list of approximately 50 individuals and organizations that I contacted through a combination of emails and phone calls. My intended goal was to create a list of informants that included residents (home-owners and tenants), advocates, developers, government officials, landlords, non-profits program officers and executive staff and various types of community leaders. Unless I encountered them inadvertently in another capacity, I did not directly interview a tenant. However many of their concerns surfaced indirectly, confirming that my list of informants was fairly representative and consistent with my initial goals.
The interviews were 30 to 60 minute semi-structured interviews; I developed a fixed set of questions that covered the topics of interest, but with the help of audio-recording technology, I was able to let the interviews take a natural progression, revisit my original topics and questions in the moment, follow up on additional topics as needed and then rely on recordings for getting sufficient detail afterwards.
Thematic Approach to Interview Questions
In developing questions for the interviews, I began with questions based on an informant’s general relationship to the research topic (developer, resident, government official, etc.), customizing those questions to fit the particular background of each informant. For example, developers with direct experience renovating two- to four-unit buildings were asked questions about smaller units which were different from those put to developers of larger multifamily properties.
There were 6 particular themes that guided both the questions and the list of informants I sought:
| Component | Approach/Research Objectives |
| Historical Context | Using interviews and primarily secondary sources, to develop a historical narrative of the circumstances that create the existing environment in Woodlawn. |
| Neighborhood Politics | Through interview questions about political engagement, identify the political climate in which the Small Building Initiative enters. What political issues are linked to the issue of Small Buildings? What is perceived as feasible and not, and why is this the case? |
| Housing Stock | Assess the housing stock in two parts: (1) stakeholder interviews with developers, residents, and government officials for qualitative information; and 2) analyze data on vacant buildings (which are easily available), rental and for-sale listings (available with subscriptions) and tax and parcel data (much more difficult to compile, but possibly available from secondary sources). This also involves systematically dividing up the housing into categories of occupancy, foreclosure status, sale/rental price, building condition and number of household units. |
| Housing Demand | Use secondary information from a market study commission by POAH in addition to conversations with developers and brokers to understand market prices for sale and for rent. |
| Capital Availability | Through interviews with private/non-profit lenders, developers and government officials, assess whether there are identifiable limitations in capital availability for small building redevelopment, the reasons why/why not, the particular loan products needed and the primary sources of capital in the neighborhood. |
| Renovation & Management | Gather information on other aspects of the housing delivery system that might include renovation of small building, obtaining a title, general landlord issues and scattered site rental management. |
Additional Sources
For the purpose of generating additional insights for the case study, I relied on both primary and secondary sources to assist the interviews. Newspapers and news radio coverage were helpful for gaining information on historic context, and online websites such as the (now defunct) site Everyblock.com and Facebook served as a way of aggregating attitudes and opinions of residents. I also relied on administrative data from the City of Chicago, Decennial Census, American Community Survey, and Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council for background and additional evidence on the neighborhood, social and economic changes and physical features.
Glaser–The discovery of grounded theory: strategies for qualitative research
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Bibliography
Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (2012). The discovery of grounded theory: strategies for qualitative research. New Brunswick, N.J.: Aldine Transaction.
Date Published or Accessed: 2012-00-00 2012
Reference Summary
Most writing on sociological method has been concerned with how accurate facts can be obtained and how theory can thereby be more rigorously tested. In this book, Glaser and Strauss address the equally important enterprise of how the discovery of theory from data–systematically obtained and analyzed in social research–can be furthered. The discovery of theory from data–grounded theory–is a major task confronting sociology, for such a theory fits empirical situations, and is understandable to sociologists and laymen alike. Most important, it provides relevant predictions, explanations, interpretations, and applications. –From publisher’s description.
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Dunne–The place of the literature review in grounded theory research
Bibliography
Dunne, C. (2011). The place of the literature review in grounded theory research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 14(2), 111_124. doi:10.1080/13645579.2010.494930
Date Published or Accessed: 2011-00-00 2011
Reference Summary
For those employing grounded theory as a research methodology, the issue of how and when to engage with existing literature is often problematic, especially for PhD students. With this in mind, the current article seeks to offer some clarity on the topic and provide novice grounded theory researchers in particular with advice on how to approach the issue of the literature review in grounded theory. This is done by reviewing the origins of grounded theory, exploring the original stance taken by the founders of the methodology with regard to the literature review, tracking how this position has changed over time, outlining the rationale associated with specific positions and discussing ideas for reconciling opposing perspectives. Coupled with this, the author draws on his own experience of using grounded theory for his PhD research to explain how extant literature may be used and discusses how the nature of engagement with existing literature may impact upon the overall written presentation of a grounded theory study.
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Reference Notes
Creswell–Qualitative inquiry & research design: choosing among five approaches
Bibliography
Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry & research design: choosing among five approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
Date Published or Accessed: 2007-00-00 2007
Reference Summary
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