ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates the usefulness to housing research of the concept of a housing pathway. The pathways approach involves the application of a metaphor of a pathway to the movement of a household between different housing situations through the lifecourse. Social constructionism is a broad paradigm with many differences of emphasis within its parameters. The chapter examines an appropriate research framework for empirical research on housing pathways. It expresses that a change of emphasis is needed from traditional, positivist research approaches towards techniques which capture the meanings held by actors and can adequately address dimensions of time. An important element of power is the ability to achieve a desired outcome from a particular interaction, whether this reinforces or challenges existing social practices. Employment is a key factor that underlies household structures and is an important factor in households' ability to afford housing.
