Housing Vacancy Outlined with Delphi Survey. Contributions of Participatory Research to a Just Transformation Process on Trial
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36367/ntqr.16.2023.e784Keywords:
Housing vacancy, Community-based participatory research, Qualitative Delphi survey, Social diversity as opportunity, Just transformationAbstract
Rising housing prices, associated supply gaps and displacement processes have revived the “housing issue” in Germany. This is particularly true for certain social groups socially marginalized by high competition in the housing market. The participatory action research study “Wohnungsleerstand wandeln!”(WohL) - “Worthy places from un-used spaces” examines the coexistence of housing scarcity and housing abundance in a district of the Munich metropolitan area. The goal is to use a participatory multi-method design, including a two-stage qualitative Delphi Survey, to find tailored solutions for the housing situation in each community. The Delphi method was used to reflect the diversity of perspectives in housing as well as the principles of participatory action research such as participation in research, proximity to the field, and capacity building through mutual learning. In the case of sustainable housing solutions, a group discussion process, in which facts are listed by participants (who remain anonymous) without taking into account local social structures, can lead to conclusions that are not accepted by the community. Hence, this paper explains how a Delphi Survey can be designed as a qualitative element of participatory action research. Therefore, the WohL Study and its qualitative Delphi Survey are presented, followed by a methodological reflection on the findings. It becomes clear that consensus and anonymity have to be balanced with solution sustainability. Criteria like the selection of participants, the process of group discussion as well as data collection and analysis have to be adapted to the specific field to be explored. New, diversity-sensitive and method-based approaches to decision making pave the way for a transformation of housing that must imply “vacancies” are to be (re)used, but also that collective decision-making brings “overlooked” groups “back into play.” Ultimately, the essential prerequisite for managing the transformation is the participation of the people of the community.
References
Ashley, A. J., Loh, C. G., Bubb, K., & Durham, L. (2022). Diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in arts and cultural planning, Journal of Urban Affairs, 44(4-5), 727-747. https://doi.org/10.1080/07352166.2020.1834405
Atkinson, R. (2000). Measuring gentrification and displacement in greater London. Urban Studies, 37(1), 149-155. https://doi.org/10.1080/0042098002339
Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik (2019). Statistik kommunal. Landkreis Dachau 09174 [Bavarian State Statistical Office]. www.statistik.bayern.de.
Beiderbeck, D., Frevel, N. von Gracht, H., Schmidt, S., & Schweitzer, V. (2021). Preparing, conducting, and analyzing Delphi surveys: Cross-disciplinary practices, new directions, and advancements. Journal MethodsX, 8(101401), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2021.101401
Beran, F., & Nuissl, H. (2019). Verdrängung auf angespannten Wohnungsmärkten [Displacement in tight housing markets]. Das Beispiel Berlin. Wüstenrot Stiftung.
Bourgeois, J., Pugmire, L., Stevenson, K., Swanson, N., & Swanson, B. (2006). The Delphi method: A qualitative means to a better future. Unpublished manuscript. Downloaded from YUMPU. https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/31411724/the-delphi-method-a-qualitative-means-to-a-better-future-freequality
Dewilde, C. (2022). How housing affects the association between low income and living conditions - deprivation across Europe. Socio-Economic Review, 20(1), 373-400. https://doi.org/10.1093/ser/mwab003
Dachau District (2023). Dachau District. www.dachauer-land.com.
Duran, B., & Wallerstein, N. (2003). The conceptual, historical and practical roots of community based participatory research and related participatory traditions. In Wallerstein, N, Duran, B., Oetzel, J.G., & Minkler, M. (eds.) Community-Based Participatory Research for Health: Advancing Social and Health Equity (pp. 27-52). Jossey-Bass.
European Commission. (2019). The Just Transition Mechanism: Making sure no one is left behind. https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/finance-and-green-deal/just-transition-mechanism/just-transition-funding-sources_en.
Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (2019). Guide to the General Equal Treatment Act. https://www.antidiskriminierungsstelle.de/SharedDocs/downloads/EN/publikationen/agg_wegweiser_engl_guide_to_the_general_equal_treatment_act.pdf?__blob=publicationFile.
Fettke, U., & Wacker, E. (2023). Living in contexts. Transforming housing vacancies as a driving concept for inclusive cities [Manuscript submitted for publication]. In Camprag, N., Ugur, L., & Suri, A. (eds.) Rethinking Urban Transformations: a New Paradigm for Inclusive Cities. Springer.
Fine, M., Torre, M. E., Oswald, A. G., & Avory, S. (2021). Critical participatory action research: Methods and praxis for intersectional knowledge production. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 68, 344-356. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000445
FRA – European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (2007). Report on racism. https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/11-report_racism_0807_de.pdf
Grube, N., & Thiele, K. (2020). Kritische Stadtexkursionen. Annäherung an eine reflexive Exkursionspraxis [Critical urban excursions. Toward a reflexive excursion practice]. Sub/urban, 8(3), 215-230. https://doi.org/10.36900/suburban.v8i3.523
Guyz, D., Dickson-Swift, V., Kenny, A. & Threlkeld, G. (2015). Gadamerian philosophical hermeneutics as a useful methodological framework for the Delphi technique. Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 10, Article 26291. https://doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v10.26291
Hinz, T., & Auspurg, K. (2017). Diskriminierung auf dem Wohnungsmarkt [Discrimination in the housing market]. In Scherr, A., El-Mafaalani, A., Yüksel, G. (eds.) Handbuch Diskriminierung (pp. 387-406). Springer VS.
Holm, A., Regnault, V., Sprengholz, M., & Stephan, M. (2021). Die Verfestigung sozialer Wohnversorgungsprobleme. Entwicklung der Wohnverhältnisse und der sozialen Wohnversorgung von 2006 bis 2018 in 77 deutschen Großstädten [The perpetuation of social housing supply problems. Development of housing conditions and social housing supply from 2006 to 2018 in 77 German cities]. (Working Paper No. 217). Hans Böckler Stiftung.
Israel, B. A., Schulz, A. J., Parker, E. A., & Becker, A. B. (1998). Review of community based research: assessing partnership approaches to improve public health. Public Health, 19(1), 173-202. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.publhealth.19.1.173
Keeney, S., Hasson, F., & McKenna, H. P. (2001). A critical review of the Delphi technique as a research methodology for nursing. Nursing Studies, 38, 195-200. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7489(00)00044-4
Lebuhn, H., Holm, A., Junker, S., & Neitzel, K. (2017). Wohnverhältnisse in Deutschland – eine analyse der sozialen lage in 77 großstädten [Housing conditions in Germany - An analysis of the social situation in 77 cities]. Bericht aus dem Forschungsprojekt Sozialer Wohnungsbedarf. https://www.boeckler.de/pdf_fof/99313.pdf.
Mayring, P. (2000). Qualitative inhaltsanalyse. Grundlagen und techniken [Qualitative content analysis. Basics and techniques] (7th ed.). Deutscher StudienVerlag.
Mete, S. (2022). Towards degrowth housing development? Lessons from a scenario-based gaming session in the Oslo region. Local Environment, 27(4), 517-536. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2021.1964456
Minkler, M., & Wallerstein, N. (2008). Community-based participatory research for health: From process to outcomes. Jossey-Bass.
Nasa, P., Jain, R., & Juneja, D. (2021). Delphi methodology in healthcare research: How to decide its appropriateness. World Journal Methodology, 11(4), 116-129. https://doi.org/10.5662/wjm.v11.i4.116
Nguyen T. T., Wallerstein, N., Das, R., Sabado-Liwag, M. D., Jernigan V. B. …, & Woo, K. (2021). Conducting community-based participatory research with minority communities to reduce health disparities. In Dankwa-Mullan, I., Pérez-Stable, E. J., Gardner, K. L., Zhang, X., & Rosario, A. M. (Eds.), The science of health disparities research (pp. 171-186). John Wiley & Sons.
Nugus, P., Greenfield, D., Travaglia, J., & Braithwaite, J. (2012).The politics of action research: “If you don’t like the way things are going, get off the bus.” Social Science & Medicine, 75, 1946-1953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.06.024
Ratcliffe, P. (2010). “Race,” housing and social exclusion. Housing Studies, 13(6), 807-818. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673039883083
Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2015). Organizational behavior (16th ed.). Pearson Education.
Schulz, M., Mack, B., & Renn, O. (2012). Fokusgruppen in der empirischen sozialwissenschaft. Von der konzeption bis zur auswertung [Focus groups in the empirical social sciences. From design to evaluation]. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
Schmidt, H., Vollmer, M., Ossig, T., Christmann, D., & Fischer, T. (2017). Fokus wohnungsleerstand. Ausmass – wahrnehmung – kommunale reaktionen [Focus housing vacancy. Extent - perception - municipal reactions]. Wüstenrot Stiftung.
Sekayi, D., & Kennedy, A. (2017). Qualitative Delphi method: A four round process with a worked example. The Qualitative Report, 22(10), 2755-2763. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2017.2974
Smets, P., & van Lindert, P. (2016). Sustainable housing and the urban poor. International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development, 8(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/19463138.2016.1168825
Spranger, J., Homberg, A., Sonnberger, M., & Niederberger, M. (2022). Reporting guidelines for Delphi techniques in health sciences. Evidenz in der Gesundheitsversorgung, 172, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.zefq.2022.04.025
Statista. (2022). Anzahl der einpersonenhaushalte in Deutschland von 1991 bis 2020 [Number of single-person households in Germany from 1991 to 2020]. https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/156951/umfrage/anzahl-der-einpersonenhaushalte-in-deutschland-seit-1991/
Voglmann, K., Growe, A., Münter A., & Osterhage, F. (2021). Profitiert das umland vom boom der großstädte? Reichweite und funktionale differenzierung von ausstrahlungseffekten in den Deutschen stadtregionen [Do the hinterlands benefit from the boom in cities? Scope and functional differentiation of spillover effects in German urban regions]. Raumforschung und Raumordnung, 80(4), 397-413. https://doi.org/10.14512/rur.144
Von Unger, H. (2012). Partizipative gesundheitsforschung: Wer partizipiert woran? [Participatory health research: who participates in what?]. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung, 13(1), 1-21. https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs120176
Von Unger, H. (2014). Partizipative forschung. Einführung in die forschungspraxis [Participatory research. introduction to the research practice]. Springer VS.
Von Unger H., Block M., & Wright, M. T. (2007). Aktionsforschung im Deutschsprachigen raum: Zur feschichte und aktualität eines kontroversen ansatzes aus public health sicht [Action research in German-speaking countries: on the history and actuality of a controversial approach from a public health perspective]. WZB Discussion Paper, WZB Berlin Social Science Center. https://ideas.repec.org/p/zbw/wzbhea/spi2007303.html
Witzel, A., & Reiter, H. (2012). The problem-centered interview. SAGE Publications.
Zuber-Skerritt, O. (2015). Participatory action learning and action research (PALAR) for community engagement: A theoretical framework. Educational Research for Social Change, 4(1), 5-25. http://ersc.nmmu.ac.za/articles/Vol_4_No_1_Zuber-Skerrit_pp_5-25_April_2015.pdf
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 New Trends in Qualitative Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
openAccess
