The aims and methods of comparative housing research

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
This article argues the case for a reconsideration of the aims and methods of comparative housing research and advocates more attention to scientific inquiry rather than accepting descriptive information as a satisfactory end product. More genuine comparative analysis is required. The examination of similarities and differences in housing systems and of the relationships between policy objectives and instruments should be done by reasoned hypothesis testing rather than the application of terminology posing as explanation. This work will involve, it is argued, more attention to the examination of data. There is a need to consider the nature and consistency of existing data and to create new data. The requirements of more basic information on housing gathered from a range of countries, improved data and taxonomies, plus hypothesis generation and testing points to the need for researchers typified as explorers, empiricists, theorists, and scientists.