christopherofgmu.files.wordpress.com · Web viewtopic, one must first understand what gentrification is. The Encyclopedia of Housing defines gentrification as “the process by

Displacement or Retention

Running Head: DISPLACEMENT OR RETENTION

DISPLACEMENT OR RETENTION?

Effects of Gentrification on Low-Income Caucasian Residents in Washington, DC

Christopher Thaggard

George Mason University


Keywords: gentrification1; displacement2; low-income3; Caucasian4

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Urban revitalization or did you mean to say gentrification? In Clarence Fluker’s

Washington Post article titled “Gentrification in DC: How will we remember those displaced?”

the author reports on the rising rate of urban revitalization throughout Washington, DC over the

last five years and interviews residents that had become displaced as a result of no longer being

able to afford the higher rent, property taxes, and cost of living. In addition, the author looked at

the growing animosity tenure residents are having towards politicians and developers that they

see as the root cause of the problem.

In order to understand why gentrification is such a sensitive topic, one must first

understand what gentrification is. The Encyclopedia of Housing defines gentrification as “the

process by which central urban neighborhoods that have undergone disinvestment and economic

decline experience a reversal, reinvestment, and the in-migration of relatively well-off, middle-

and upper-middle-class population” (as cited in Kirkland, 2008). Additionally, in Hammel and

Wyly’s research report titled “Neoliberal Housing Policy and the Gentrification of the American

Urban System they define gentrification as “the replacement of low-income, inner-city working-

class residents by middle- or upper-class households, either through the market for existing

1 “The process by which central urban neighborhoods that have undergone disinvestment and economic decline experience a reversal, reinvestment, and the in-migration of relatively well-off, middle- and upper-middle-class population” (as cited in Kirkland, 2008).2 Any individual required to leave because of drastic economic change in their neighborhood (increase in rent, taxes, mortgage, parking rates, rate for services). 3 A single resident of Washington, DC is consider low-income if they make less than “47,000 annually” (Economic and Market Analysis Division, 2015).4 “Characteristic of a race of humankind native to Europe, North Africa, and southwest Asia and classified according to physical features –used especially in referring to persons of European descent having usually light skin pigmentation.” (Webster’s Dictionary, 2015).

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housing or demolition to make way for new upscale housing construction” (as cited in Kirkland,

2008).

Despite prior studies that have shown decreases in low-income African American

residents in Washington, DC because of gentrification, these studies have omitted whether

gentrification has decreased the number of low-income Caucasian residents as well. Due to the

lack of information currently available in regards to the effects of gentrification on low-income

Caucasian residents, I raise the question: Does gentrification displace low-income Caucasian

residents in Washington, DC? Although there has been considerable research devoted to the

impacts of gentrification on low-income African American residents in Washington, DC, these

studies have shown little to no information in regards to the effects gentrification has on low-

income Caucasian residents in these same gentrified neighborhoods. I hypothesize that

gentrification displaces low-income Caucasian residents in Washington, DC.

With gentrification being a hot topic amongst many civil rights activist that feel it only

targets minorities, I feel it is important that further research on the topic is conducted to show the

effects of gentrification on the often overlooked low-income Caucasian population. By

exploring the effects of gentrification on low-income Caucasian residents, this research can

provide information that to help remove the stigma that gentrification is solely a race issue. By

removing the racial stigma that often comes with gentrification there will be a reduced

propensity for racial conflict and or tension when dealing with issues related to gentrification.

LITERATURE REVIEW

In a research article by Freeman and Braconi (2004), the authors address a specific

question for guiding the study. Does gentrification displace disadvantaged households in New

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York City? The focus of the examination was on disadvantaged households living in newly

gentrified location throughout New York City, using census data, multivariate models of

residential mobility, life-cycle frameworks, as well as by measuring the rate of increase in

neighborhood market rents. They hypothesized that gentrification triggers rent inflation, and

rising rents induce displacement. Their sample for the study consisted of New York City

Housing and Vacancy Surveys, which were representative of approximately 16,000 housing

units, with about 70% documented as rental units. The results of the study invalidated the

hypothesis that gentrification triggers rent inflation, and as a result disadvantaged households

become displaced. The study found “that rather than rapid displacement, gentrification was

associated with slower residential turnover among these households.” (Freeman et al., 2004).

One limitation of the study is that the researches do not clearly define who they consider

disadvantaged. In addition, they only focus on the effects gentrification has on individuals that

rent, and assume that an increase in neighborhood market rents automatically correlates to a

displacement of disadvantaged households. Additionally, the results would have been more

convincing if the used a smaller sample size.

Once more, an author addresses the topic of gentrification as it relates to displacement.

In a research article by Freeman (2005), the author criticized the work of Freeman and Braconi

(2004) and addressed a question based on information ascertained from his earlier study: How

does gentrification affect the displacement/mobility of preexisting residents? The focus of the

examination was on people living in U.S. neighborhoods undergoing gentrification having a

median income less than the median for that metropolitan area at the beginning of the intercensal

period, using a comparative approach of similar neighborhoods not going through gentrification,

using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, as well as census data. He hypothesized that

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preexisting residents of gentrifying neighborhoods were more likely to move/be displaced when

residing in gentrifying neighborhoods. The result of his study disproved his hypothesis that

preexisting residents along with poor renters residing in gentrifying neighborhoods were more

likely to move/become displaced. The study found that “displacement and higher mobility play

minor if any roles as forces of change in gentrifying neighborhoods. Demographic change in

gentrifying neighborhoods appears to be a consequence of lower rates of intra neighborhood

mobility and the relative affluence of in-movers.” (Freeman, 2005). The research does a great

job revisiting a study he conducted earlier to address oversights he made. One limitation of his

study is that he does not narrow his demographic to include gender and race.

Next, an author focuses on the topic of whether gentrification harms the poor. In a

research article by Jacob Vigdor (2002), the author examined the shifts in demographics most

commonly associated with gentrification and offered two contending explanation for them. Does

gentrification harm the poor? The focus of the study was on demographic shifts as well as

distributional effects of gentrification in the Boston area between 1970 and 1998, using data

collected from the American Housing Survey (AHS). He theorized that revitalization of urban

neighborhoods caused changes in welfare among disadvantaged households as well as that

gentrification was simply a side effect of other broad economic trends that affect the poor. The

results of his examination were inconclusive on does gentrification harm the poor. The

examination found no evidence to suggest that gentrification increased the probability that low-

status households abandon their place of residence.

Next, an author addresses the issue of gentrification in Washington, DC. In a research

article by Cook (2013), the author examined redevelopment occurring in Washington, DC

specifically in the neighborhood of NoMa. Does redevelopment in NoMa lead to both direct and

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indirect displacement of low-income African American residents? The focus of this examination

was on the displacement of lower-income African American residents throughout Washington

DC, using personal observations, archival records, as well as census data. Based on New-build

gentrification theory (Davidson and Lees, 2010) she theorized that redevelopment in NoMa was

accompanied by both direct and indirect displacement of low-income African American

residents. The results of the examination confirmed the theory that redevelopment in NoMa was

accompanied by displacement of low-income African Americans. The examination found that

new housing construction in NoMa targeted middle to high-income individuals seeking high-end,

luxury apartments, and condominiums, with little to no inclusion of affordable housing.

Limitations of her study abound. The study is flawed and biased because she is using personal

observations as a source for gathering information. In addition, she assumes that because the

new housing construction in NoMa is high-end, luxury apartments, and condominiums that the

only targeted group for consumption is middle and upper class Caucasians.

Next, researchers explore the histories, trajectories, and critical geographies of

gentrification. In a research study by Davidson and Lees (2010), the researchers addressed

gentrification and displacement. Does gentrification produce significant displacement concerns?

The researchers theorized that new-build gentrification has a direct correlation with the increase

in displacement. The focus of the research was demographic transformations in new-build

developments, using surveys, as well as collected housing data. The study upheld the theory and

found that there was a correlation between gentrification and an increase in displacement.

Lastly, an author addresses the topic of race, class, and gender. In a research study by

Helmuth (2014), the author addressed the effects of gentrification on race, gender, and class.

How does white gentry’ residents spatial practices produce a context in which African American

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residents experience exclusion from public space? The author hypothesized that “space is a

social structure that is mutually constituted with race, class, and gender.” (Helmuth, 2014). The

focus of this study was on race relations within gentrified areas, using census data, 15 months of

ethnographic field studies, as well as in-depth interviews. The result of the study confirmed the

hypothesis that space is a social structure that connects with race. The study found that

“residents’ perceptions of race, class, and gender inform their spatial practices and produce sites

of exclusion” (Helmuth, 2014). One flaw of her study is that does not define the people she will

use for her study to gather data from (age, gender, race).

From these literature reviews, one can ascertain that no clear answer exists on whether

gentrification displaces low-income residents. Clearly, there is a divide amongst researchers in

this field of study and more field studies with defined parameters are necessary. The biggest

issues in this area of study are removing bias, emotions, race, and agenda from gathered data.

This would help formulate a more comprehensive and reliable study.

RESEARCH DESIGN/METHODOLOGY

Gentrification, “the process by which central urban neighborhoods that have undergone

disinvestment and economic decline experience a reversal, reinvestment, and the in-migration of

relatively well-off, middle- and upper-middle-class population” (as cited in Kirkland, 2008), has

increased over the last ten years in Washington, DC. This increase in gentrification has led to

growing animosity in tenured residents towards politicians and developers that they see as the

root cause of the problem. This growing animosity is a result of residents questioning whether

gentrification is having a negative effect on the lower income residents in neighborhoods

undergoing gentrification. More specifically the concern comes from whether gentrification is

displacing lower income residents. Although, studies have shown the positive effects that

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gentrification is having on areas once plagued with high rates of crime, low tax revenue, as well

as failing infrastructures there have been few studies on the negative effects.

While, there have been some nationwide studies on the effects gentrification has had on

lower-income individuals none have been able to come to a definite conclusion on whether

gentrification ultimately leads to the displacement of low-income residents. In addition, there

have been studies conducted to answer the question of the effects of gentrification, but

researchers have mostly focused only on the impacts gentrification has had on a particular race

with African Americans and Latinos being the focus of the research. Surprisingly, the impacts

gentrification has on low-income Caucasian residents that live in these same gentrified

neighborhoods as African Americans and Latinos, research have failed to analyze and or account

for. This lack of a full analysis and or at the very least an account for all races in studies

regarding gentrification leading to displacement has caused gentrification to become a hot topic

in regards to civil rights. By researchers just concentrating on the effects of gentrification on

particular races, data gathered could lead people to believe that gentrification targets minorities.

It is important that research is conducted on the effects that gentrification is having on

low-income residents in Washington, DC. Since, there is already studies showing the effects of

gentrification in regards to displacement of low-income minorities in Washington, DC there

needs to be a similar study of low-income Caucasian residents conducted to fill this under

studied phenomena. Knowledge gained by this study can help fill information gaps in the area of

gentrification and displacement throughout Washington, DC. As the rate of gentrified

neighborhoods steadily increases each year in Washington DC, relying on partial and incomplete

data will negatively affect the city in years to come.

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As the number of gentrified neighborhoods is steadily increasing, all across the District,

with it comes increased property values and property taxes. Evidence shows that these increases

have put a strain in residents already finding it difficult to live within their means. The biggest

social class negatively impacted by these staggering increases in the cost of living in these

gentrified neighborhoods are individuals falling within the lower-income tax bracket. In Claire

Cook’s article “The Displacement of Displacement: New-Build Gentrification in Washington,

DC” the author found a correlation between gentrification and displacement amongst low-

income African American residents in Washington, DC. Based on Cook’s findings I theorize

that gentrification displaces low-income Caucasian residents in these same gentrified

neighborhoods in Washington, DC.

To test my theory I will be conducting a quantitative study of low-income Caucasian

residents in Washington, DC using a survey approach. The survey will gather trends, attitudes,

observations, and opinions of the residents in Washington, DC to gain a better understanding of

whether displacement is an issue within the city and if so whom is negatively impacted.

Although, the survey will avoid asking those within the sample population the principle research

question of: Does gentrification displace low-income Caucasian residents in Washington, DC,

the questions asked within the survey will allow researchers to analyze the data to come to a

conclusion. By conducting, a survey targeted at residents in Washington, DC I will be able to

gain insight from residents that are able to see firsthand the effects of gentrification on the

targeted population of my study.

The research will study residents’ observations collected through a survey to see whether

gentrification displaces low-income Caucasian residents in Washington, DC. Over the course of

one day the survey will take place and will focus on gathering information such as race, income,

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location, as well as answers to three basic questions such as: Do you know someone that has

been displaced as a result of gentrification in Washington, DC, if so what is their race, and

socioeconomic standing?. The survey will be completely random, anonymous, and will take

place in multiple locations throughout Washington, DC. Those individuals that are over the age

of 20 and reside in and or work in Washington, DC will be eligible to participate in the survey.

By putting age and location restrictions on the survey, this will allow the most reliable data to be

collected.

I can see one issue that might hamper the study’s ability to collect reliable data. This

issue may arise during the study’s collection of socioeconomic data. The reliability of survey

participants’ answers in regards to knowing other individuals’ socioeconomic standing could be

problematic. At this stage of the study instead of omitting this question, I will leave it as part of

the survey and closely monitor responses to the question when given. Additionally, those

administering the survey will urge participants to answer each question on the survey fully and to

avoid using answers such, as I do not know or no answer. By having complete surveys the

number of surveys omitted from the study due to lack of complete information will decrease.

Data pulled from the survey will test the hypothesis of the study that gentrification causes

displacement amongst low-income Caucasian residents in Washington, DC.

For this study, the unit of the analysis are individuals identified as low-income Caucasian

residents. Since, the number of low-income Caucasians that reside in Washington, DC is

difficult to identify even with the help of collected census data the sample size will not be

constrained to one particular race or socioeconomic class when conducting the survey. By not

constraining the collected sample size to a particular race and or socioeconomic class, the study

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will be able to collect a larger amount of data in which to analyze and test the stated hypothesis.

This will help the study avoid running into information gaps when drawing a conclusion.

The key population will be low-income Caucasian residents in gentrifying neighborhoods

in Washington, DC. The study will seek to measure displacement amongst the key population

because of gentrification. By collecting data through a survey from residents and or people that

work within the targeted region this study hopes to achieve the ability to see whether there is a

correlation between gentrification and displacement of the targeted population for this study.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this study will measure the rates of displacement amongst low-income

Caucasian residents in Washington, DC. Additionally, the study will test my hypothesis that

gentrification leads to displacement amongst low-income Caucasian residents in Washington,

DC. Doing this will allow researchers, developers, city leaders, and residents to see if a

correlation between gentrification and displacement exists and to take corrective actions if

needed. This study aims to bring further attention to the study of gentrification not only in

Washington, DC but also to all areas that are currently or one-day might undergo a gentrifying of

its neighborhoods. In addition, the purpose of this study is to fill a missing gap of knowledge in

the study of gentrification.

To test my research project I will conduct a survey over the course of 4 weeks in four

predetermined locations within Washington, DC. Each location will represent one of the four

quadrants that make up the city such as NE, NW, SE, and SW. In each selected location, I will

survey twenty-five randomly selected volunteers that classify as African-American or Caucasian,

are over the age of twenty, and reside and or work in Washington, DC to participate in the study.

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Once surveys are collected, I will closely analyze the data to study whether there is a correlation

between gentrification and displacement of low-income Caucasian residents in Washington, DC.

This correlation will come from the number of surveys that show that participants have noticed a

reasonable amount of displacement occurring amongst low-income Caucasian residents. For the

purpose of this study, a reasonable amount is seven percent or greater. At the end of the research

study, all participants will have access to a report of the findings via the study’s related website.

If participants at that time would like to comment or leave feedback, they will have access to an

accompanying private message board to do so. Additionally, dissemination of the results will

take place by two methods:

Publishing of study in national and international journals.

Presentation of study at national conferences.

In the end, I hope that the information gathered from this study will help future

researchers, politicians, developers, and residents understand the topic of gentrification as it

relates to displacement.

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APPENDIX A

Displacement or Retention Work Plan/Timeline

Goal Statement: To fill a knowledge gap in the study of gentrification as it relates to

displacement in Washington, DC by piloting a research study that look at displacement amongst

low-income Caucasian resident resulting from gentrification.

Every Saturday at 10am until the gathering of the required number of surveys from the test

population happens, over the course of 4 weeks research data collection from one of four

predetermined test locations will occur.

Activity Time Frame Responsible Person Conduct survey at location in NE

Saturday, November 21, 2015 Christopher Thaggard

Conduct survey at location in NW

Saturday, November 28, 2015 Christopher Thaggard

Conduct survey at location in SW

Saturday, December 5, 2015 Christopher Thaggard

Conduct survey at location in SE

Saturday, December 12, 2015 Christopher Thaggard

Analyze gathered data Sunday, December 13, 2015 Christopher Thaggard

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APPENDIX B

Displacement or Retention Required Resources

Check list of required resources to conduct stated research study:

Transportation

Laptop Computer

Internet Access

Paper

Clipboards

Pens

Gloves/Hat/Winter Coat

Coffee/Water

Cellphone

Money (no more than $50 for tolls & parking)

Backpack

DC residents

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Appendix C

George Mason University Philosophy & Methods of Conflict Research Project

Displacement or Retention Questionnaire

(Please circle just one response per question)

1. Have you witnessed gentrification in Washington, DC in the last 5 years?

YES NO

2. Do you know anyone that has moved because of increased property values in

Washington, DC in the last 5 years?

YES NO

3. What was the ethnicity of anyone you have known to leave Washington, DC because of

increased property values in the last 5 years?

YES NO

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Appendix D

Human Subject Review Forms

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ABSTRACT

1.Describe the aims and specific purposes of the research project and the proposed involvement of human participants.

The aim of the research project is study whether a correlation between gentrification and displacement amongst low-income Caucasians exist in Washington, DC. This research project intends to fill a gap within the study of gentrification as it pertains to displacement and race. The research project requires the involvement of human participants to take a survey in order to collect data to test my hypothesis.

2.Describe the characteristics of the intended sample (number of participants, age, sex, ethnic background, health status, etc.).

The research project requires 100 participants. All being over the age of twenty, and residents and or employed within Washington, DC. The sample size will consist of those that identify as African American or Caucasian and age and gender will not play a factor in the selection process of participants.

3.Identify the criteria for inclusion or exclusion. Explain the rationale for the involvement of special classes of participants (children, prisoners, pregnant women, or any other vulnerable population).

All participants identify as African American or Caucasian, are over the age of twenty, and reside and or employed within Washington, DC.

4.Describe your relationship to the participants if any.

No relations with any participants within the study.

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PROTOCOL – Involving Human Participation

1. If there are direct benefits to the participants, describe the direct benefits and also describe the general knowledge that the study is likely to yield. If there are no direct benefits to the participants, state that there are no direct benefits to the participants and describe the general knowledge that the study is likely to yield.

No direct benefits to the participants. General knowledge the study will likely yield is that a correlation between gentrification and displacement amongst low-income Caucasians exist in Washington, DC.

2. Describe how participants will be identified and recruited. Note that all recruitment materials (including ads, flyers, letters to participants, emails, telephone/presentation scripts, SONA postings) for participants must be submitted for review for both exempt and non-exempt projects.

Those seen in passing in four predetermined locations around Washington, DC that fall within the outlined qualifications to participate in the study.

3. Describe your procedures for obtaining informed consent. Who will obtain consent and how will it be obtained. Describe how the researchers will ensure that subjects receive a copy of the consent document.

Upon administering the survey, participants receive notice that by participating in the research survey they give consent for the release of their answers for use in the research study.

4. State whether subjects will be compensated for their participation, describe the form of compensation and the procedures for distribution, and explain why compensation is necessary. State whether the subjects will receive course credit for participating in the research. If yes, describe the non-research option for course credit for the students who decide not to participate in the research. The non-research option for course credit must not be more difficult than participation in the research. Information regarding compensation or course credit should be outlined in the Participation section of the consent document.

N/A

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5. If minors are involved, their active assent to the research activity is required as well as active consent from their parents/guardians. This includes minors from the Psychology Department Undergraduate Subject Pool. Your procedures should be appropriate to the age of the child and his/her level of maturity and judgment. Describe your procedures for obtaining active assent from minors and active consent from parents/guardians. Refer to the Guidelines for Informed Consent for additional requirements if minors from the Psychology Subject Pool are involved.

N/A

6. Describe the research design and methods. What will be done to participants during the study? Describe all tests and procedures that will be performed. Include an estimate of the time required to complete the tests and procedures.

Participants will answer a three-question survey. Survey should take no longer than 10 minutes for each participant to complete.

7. Describe how confidentiality will be maintained. If data will be collected electronically (e.g. by email or an internet web site), describe your procedures for limiting identifiers. Note that confidentiality may have to be limited if participants are asked questions on violence toward self or others or illegal behavior. Contact the Office of Research Subject Protections for assistance.

No names of participants are recorded at any time during the research study.

8. Describe in detail any potential physical, psychological, social, or legal risks to participants, why they are reasonable in relation to the anticipated benefits and what will be done to minimize the risks. Where appropriate, discuss provisions for ensuring medical or professional intervention in case participants experience adverse effects. Where appropriate, discuss provisions for monitoring data collection when participants' safety is at risk.

N/A

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9. If participants will be audio-or video-taped, discuss provisions for the security and final disposition of the tapes. Refer to Guidelines for Informed Consent.

N/A

10. If participants will be misinformed and/or uninformed about the true nature of the project, provide justification. Note that projects involving deception must not exceed minimal risk, cannot violate the rights and welfare of participants, must require the deception to accomplish the aims of the project, and must include a full debriefing. Refer to Guidelines for Informed Consent.

Due to the sensitivity of race related questions, participants are uninformed about the true nature of the research study. Participants think the study deals with gentrification and displacement, but no gentrification and displacement amongst low-income Caucasians.

11. Submit a copy of each data collection instrument/tool (including questionnaires, surveys, standardized assessment tools, etc.) you will use and provide a brief description of its characteristics and development. Submit scripts if information and/or questions are conveyed verbally.

See appendix A

12. INFORMED CONSENT: Attach appropriate Proposed Informed Consent document(s). See Guidelines for Informed Consent and the Template Informed Consent Document for additional information.

N/A

13. APPROVAL FROM COOPERATING INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION: If a cooperating institution/organization provides access to its patients/students/clients/ employees/etc. for participant recruitment or provides access to their records, Attach written evidence of the institution/organization human subjects approval of the project.

N/A

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PROTOCOL - Involving Existing RecordsFor the study of existing data sets, documents, pathological specimens, or diagnostic specimens.

1.Describe your data set.

N/A

2. Provide written permission from the owner of the data giving you access for research purposes at George Mason University if the data set is not publicly available.

N/A

3. Describe how you will maintain confidentiality if the data set contains person identifiable data.

N/A

4. Describe what variables you are extracting from the data set.

N/A

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Appendix E

Displacement or Retention Concept Map

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REFERENCES

Cook, C. (2013). The Displacement of Displacement: New-Build Gentrification in Washington,

DC. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

Creswell, J. (2013). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches

(4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Davidson, M.; Lees, L. (2010). New-Build Gentrification: Its Histories, Trajectories, and Critical

geographies. Population, Space, and Place, vol. 16, issue. 5, 395-411.

Freeman, L.; Braconi, F. (2004). Gentrification and Displacement: New York City in the

1990s. Journal of the American Planning Association, vol. 70, issue. 1, 39-52.

Freeman, L. (2005). Displacement or Succession? Residential Mobility in Gentrifying

Neighborhoods. Urban Affairs Review, vol. 40, issue. 4, 463-491.

Helmuth, A. (2014). Exclusion and Space in Washington, DC: Exploring the Neighborhood

Terrain of Race, Class, and Gender. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

Kirkland, E. (2008). What’s Race Got to Do With it? Looking for the Racial Dimensions of

Gentrification. Western Journal of Black Studies, vol. 32, issue 2, 18-30.

Kvale, S. (2008). Doing interviews. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Robson, Colin. (2011). Real World Research: A resource for social scientists and practitioner-

researchers (3rd ed.). United Kingdom: Wiley Publishing.

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Smith, A. (2012). Gentrification. The Encyclopedia of Housing. (p. 198): SAGE Publications,

Inc.

Vigdor, J. (2002). Does Gentrification Harm the Poor? Brookings-Wharton Papers on Urban

Affairs 2002, 133-182.

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PILOT REPORT

On December 9, 2015, I proceeded to pilot a small portion of my research proposal. This

step was necessary in order to gage whether the method of my research proposal was feasible.

Additionally, the pilot was necessary to see whether there needed to be a shift in the stated

research question to fulfill the studies objective of filling a research gap in the area of

gentrification. The pilot’s overall focus was on testing the effectiveness of the drafted survey in

being able to gather enough data as well as the correct data in order to test the stated hypothesis.

Since, the study relies completely on information gathered from the survey it was important that

the pilot also gather feedback from those that volunteered to take the survey. This feedback

would indicate the effectiveness of the current structure of the survey questions.

Not knowing the potential risk and safety concerns of piloting this research study that

required me to travel to different locations throughout Washington, DC, I acquired the help from

two colleagues that volunteered to play the role of my bodyguard and guide during the piloting

of the survey. Not to discourage gaining volunteers to participate in the survey my two

colleagues kept a reasonable amount of distance throughout the conduction/collection of the

survey. Although, security was not necessarily a major concern for me during the drafting and

designing of the research proposal, after feedback I received in regards to my research question

on social media I decided to take precautions. Additionally, as I am not a native of Washington,

DC I felt that having a guide that was familiar with the city would be beneficial to the piloting of

the research project. Using insight that I gathered from the guide I was able to pick the targeted

locations in which to conduct the survey without worries of not being able to reach my targeted

population for this research study.

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To pilot the study four locations throughout Washington, DC were preselected to conduct

the survey. Each location was representative of one of the four quadrants that make up the

District. These locations were the following: outside the Verizon Center located in NW, outside

of Nationals Park in SE, at Union Station in NE, and at the Waterfront metro station in SW.

Convenience and the potentially large sample size were the basis of selecting these locations for

conducting the survey for the research study.

At each location, I randomly gathered six volunteers that met the predefined

qualifications to participate in the survey. These qualifications required that each volunteer be

over the age of twenty and be a resident or currently employed full-time with a company that is

within Washington, DC. Those chosen consisted of an even number of African Americans and

Caucasians. This was purposely done to avoid an over saturation of one demographic as well as

avoid a bias in perception when analyzing the survey results. The majority of those that

volunteered to participate in the study were women between the ages of 23-62. Although,

gender was not a focus in the selection of participants it was worth noting that men seemed less

interested in taking the survey.

The total sample size tested during the pilot study was 24 participants, twelve African

Americans and twelve Caucasians. Due in part to the low number of male participants gender

totals were not included in the pilot study analysis at the end. All participants completed the

study’s three-question survey and provided vocal feedback on the structure of the survey

questions at the end, which I then documented. The survey consisted of the following three

questions:

1. Have you witnessed gentrification in Washington, DC in the last 5 years?

(Yes or No).

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2. Do you know anyone that has moved because of increased property values in

Washington, DC in the last 5 years? (Yes or No)

3. What was the ethnicity of anyone you have known to leave Washington, DC

because of increased property values in the last 5 years?

(African American, Caucasian, Other, N/A)

Feedback from the participants was mostly positive however, most did note that the survey was

on the short side. It was with participants’ feedback that I realized a crucial error in the design of

the survey.

The survey’s biggest flaw was that it had no way of gathering data in regards to

socioeconomic class. Without this information, there was no way to test the stated research

question: Does gentrification displace low-income Caucasian residents in Washington, DC? Due

to time constraints correcting the flawed survey, gathering new participants, going back to the

predetermined locations, and testing a new survey was not feasible. Even if more time was

available to fix the survey to include a question regarding socioeconomic class I am not sure this

would still have fixed the ability of the survey to collect reliable data to answer the research

question.

Using a survey that relies on randomly sampling a population that has no knowledge of

other peoples’ socioeconomic class shows a flaw in the research method. Based on the pilot I am

of the opinion that this research study would benefit from using a case study. A case study that

used census data as well as interviews would better answer the research question and test my

hypothesis. Not only did the pilot show flaws with the survey but it also showed flaws in the

method by which people were selected to participate in the given survey. Establishing stronger

parameters by which to select participants for the research study instead of depending on just

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random selection would have provided a stronger knowledge base with which to extract data

from to test my hypothesis.

Although, the pilot showed a number of flaws in the established survey the data

gathered still provided valuable information for the study of gentrification. Once analyzed the

data pulled from the pilot survey showed that a correlation between gentrification and

displacement amongst Caucasians in Washington, DC is highly probable. Based on the

correlation between gentrification and displacement amongst Caucasians in Washington, DC

found in data collected from the pilot survey further research can now be conducted to look at

the phenomena in closer detail. If I had more time I myself based on this new knowledge would

change my research question. That question would be does gentrification displace low-income

Caucasian residents in Washington, DC?

In conclusion, as a new researcher, the pilot showed me the errors of my research method

and resulted in me being unable to test my stated hypothesis. While, the pilot showed that my

designed survey could not collect the needed data to test my hypothesis, it still was not a

complete failure. The piloted survey still managed to bring new data into the study of

gentrification and displacement. This collected data now opens up the door for further study of

gentrification and displacement amongst Caucasians in Washington, DC. It was disappointing

to learn that I am unable to test my hypothesis, but I am excited at the possibility of conducting a

new research study around gentrification and displacement amongst Caucasians in Washington,

DC.

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Documents

christopherofgmu.files.wordpress.com · Web viewtopic, one must first understand what gentrification is. The Encyclopedia of Housing defines gentrification as “the process by