Observation Through Listings as a Methodological Choice
Listing-based observation is a methodological approach that treats published residential listings as the primary unit of visibility. In Accra, this approach reflects how residential information becomes accessible through formal publication channels rather than through direct measurement of housing stock.
This methodology does not attempt to reconstruct the full residential environment. Instead, it documents how residential properties enter observable systems and how that visibility can be consistently described.
How Listing-Based Observation Differs from Stock Measurement
Stock-based measurement seeks to account for all residential units within a defined area, regardless of whether they are actively marketed or visible. Listing-based observation, by contrast, captures only properties that are published, categorized, and circulated through listing platforms.
This distinction is fundamental. Listing-based data reflects communication and marketing behavior, not physical completeness or occupancy conditions.
Role of Publication, Categorization, and Rotation
Residential listings are shaped by three core mechanisms: publication, categorization, and rotation. Publication determines whether a property becomes visible at all. Categorization defines how it is labeled and grouped. Rotation governs how long it remains visible and whether it reappears over time.
Together, these mechanisms produce a dynamic observational surface where visibility is temporary, repeatable, and structurally selective.
Methodological Implications for Interpretation
Because listing-based observation captures visibility rather than presence, it introduces inherent methodological limits. Observed patterns cannot be assumed to represent residential prevalence, stability, or typicality.
This methodology therefore requires strict interpretation boundaries. Listings are read as evidence of publication activity within the residential market, not as proxies for underlying housing conditions.