Title:

Rethinking Research on Forming Typologies of Homelessness

Author(s):

McAllister, William
Lennon, Mary Clare
Kuang, Li

Date:

2011

Type:

Articles

Department:

Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy

Volume:

101

Permanent URL:

http://hdl.handle.net/10022/AC:P:14209

Book/Journal Title:

American Journal of Public Health

Abstract:

In homelessness research and policymaking, it seems to be axiomatic that single adults experience 3 temporally based types of homelessness: chronic, episodic, and transitional. We discuss problems with the theorization of this typology and with the research design, data analysis, and time-aggregated conceptualization and measurement of temporality in the empirical work supporting the typology. To address the latter, we suggest a time-patterned approach to temporality and report a 10-group typology that differs significantly from the more familiar 3-group typology. We argue that which approach is used—and how typologies are developed more generally—should be based on theory and the uses to which typologies are put rather than on claims to being more true.

Subject(s):

Social research

DOI:

10.2105/AJPH.2010.300074

Item views:

60

Metadata:

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