Overview: This dissertation proposal focuses on creating scorecards to assess and improve housing equity for people with disabilities. The scorecards will address three primary dimensions of housing disparities: affordability, accessibility, and integration. Using Participatory Action Research (PAR), the study aims to collaborate with disability advocates to co-create practical tools that measure and promote equitable housing outcomes. The proposal is grounded in Social Ecological Theory (SET) and Praxis, which provide the theoretical frameworks to understand and address the multi-level factors influencing housing disparities.
Current Status: I have already drafted sections of the literature review, conceptual framework, and methods chapters. However, the proposal still requires significant development in the following areas:
Main Introduction (not started yet)
Completion and expansion of the literature review
Methods (further details on the implementation of PAR and data collection processes, particularly regarding composite indicators)
Significance section (not yet started)
The attached PDF includes:
A partially written literature review, focusing on affordability, accessibility, and integration in housing disparities.
A conceptual framework based on SET and Praxis, which outlines how these theories will be used to analyze housing equity.
A methods section that details the use of Participatory Action Research (PAR), focus groups, and Delphi processes to co-create housing equity scorecards with disability advocates.
What I Need You to Do:
Main Introduction (New Section)
Develop a compelling introduction that provides an overview of housing disparities for people with disabilities.
Emphasize the key dimensions (affordability, accessibility, and integration) and the impact these disparities have on people with disabilities.
Introduce Social Ecological Theory (SET) and Praxis as the guiding frameworks and explain how they will be used to understand and address these issues.
Include a brief mention of the scorecards being developed as a practical tool to assess housing equity.
Conclude the introduction with a roadmap of the chapters (literature review, conceptual framework, methods, and significance).
Literature Review (Expand and Complete)
Expand on the existing draft, particularly the sections on the three dimensions (affordability, accessibility, and integration).
Add further references and examples of studies that address housing equity for people with disabilities.
Critically assess current policies and research gaps related to these dimensions, and include specific examples (e.g., case studies on zoning restrictions or community opposition to integrated housing).
Conclude with a summary of key findings from the literature and their relevance to the creation of scorecards for housing equity.
Conceptual Framework (Polish)
Review and polish the conceptual framework based on Social Ecological Theory (SET) and Praxis.
Ensure that the explanation of these frameworks is clear and shows how they will be used to guide the creation of housing equity scorecards.
Lightly revise for flow, coherence, and clarity. This section is largely complete but may benefit from minor revisions.
Methods (Expand and Detail)
Expand the methods section by adding more detail on how the Participatory Action Research (PAR) process will be implemented, specifically focusing on collaboration with disability advocates to co-create data scorecards.
Focus Group: Begin with a focus group to identify and discuss the ideal components of the housing equity scorecards. These components should be based on the lived experiences and priorities of disability advocates.
Delphi Technique (Round 1): After the focus group, use the Delphi process to build consensus on the ideal components for the scorecards.
Composite Indicators (CI): Create the scorecards using composite indicators (CI), including the use of R for unit weighting and data standardization.
Delphi Technique (Round 2): A second Delphi process will then be used to refine and finalize the scorecards, gathering feedback on their usability, relevance, and effectiveness.
Knowledge Translation (KT): In a separate Knowledge Translation (KT) activity, the finalized scorecards will be presented to a broader audience, gathering feedback and discussing potential applications through a virtual event like a town hall.
Significance (New Section)
Draft a new section that discusses the significance of this research.
Explain how the study will contribute to advancing knowledge on housing equity for people with disabilities.
Highlight the practical implications of the scorecards, including how they can be used by policymakers, housing providers, and disability advocates to improve housing outcomes.
Discuss the potential for future research and how this study fills gaps in current housing equity literature.
Explanation of the Provided File:
Literature Review (Partially Written): The existing draft covers affordability, accessibility, and integration in housing equity but needs further expansion, additional references, and critical analysis.
Conceptual Framework: This section is well-developed and explains the use of Social Ecological Theory (SET) and Praxis to understand housing equity. It may need minor revisions for clarity but is mostly complete.
Methods (In Progress): The methods section includes details on using Participatory Action Research (PAR), focus groups, and Delphi processes. The process involves working with disability advocates to identify ideal components through a focus group, using a Delphi technique to decide on these components, and then creating composite indicators (CIs) with R to build the scorecards. A second Delphi process will finalize the scorecards, followed by a separate Knowledge Translation (KT) activity to present the scorecards to the broader community.
Please ensure that the writing style remains cohesive with the existing sections and follows an academic tone suitable for a dissertation proposal. Write in 1st person. Use APA citation style for any new references added.
Thank you for your help in developing and completing this dissertation proposal.