Housing theory, housing research and housing policy

Clapham, D. (2018) Housing theory, housing research and housing policy. Housing, Theory and Society, 35(2), pp. 163-177. (doi: 10.1080/14036096.2017.1366937)

Abstract

Jim Kemeny in 1992 criticized existing housing research for neglecting social theory and being overly positivist and policy focused. The result has been a strengthening of the conceptual basis of housing research in general, but also a growing schism between researchers who focus on policy relevancy and those that pursue more theoretical work. This paper challenges this schism and argues for theoretically based and policy-relevant research. First, the paper argues that the policy-making process is complex and can vary between different countries, situations and over time. Therefore, it is argued that many styles of research can influence policy in the right circumstances. Second, the paper challenges the idea that there can be theoretically free housing research arguing that all research has a theoretical foundation even though in many studies it is not explicit. Finally, the paper engages with the debate about where theory for housing research should come from and what it would look like.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Clapham, Professor David
• Authors: Clapham, D.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Journal Name: Housing, Theory and Society
• Publisher: Routledge
• ISSN: 1403-6096
• ISSN (Online): 1651-2278
• Published Online: 01 May 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 IBF, The Institute for Housing and Urban Research
• First Published: First published in Housing, Theory and Society 35(2):163-177
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy