Introduction to writing an undergraduate economics research paper by Tanveer Reza Rouf

Economics: Research PAPER

ECO 242ECO 242Spring 2013Spring 2013

Tanveer Reza Rouf

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What is a research paper? Basically: tries to find answer to a question!!!

As Simple as that!As Simple as that!

But, we do it in a structured way!But, we do it in a structured way!

We ask a RESEARCH QUESTION and through We ask a RESEARCH QUESTION and through analysis of the DATA, we try and ANSWER that analysis of the DATA, we try and ANSWER that question!question!

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Examples of Research questions Why is the unemployment rate going up in Bhutan?

Does more education lead to higher earnings in Bhutan?

What are the effects of tax policy on work-leisure balance in Bhutan?

Does the tax policy encourage people to get married in Bhutan?

What sectors provide the most to GDP in Bhutan?

Will the current GDP growth rate be maintained in the next ten years?

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Structure of a Research Paper

Introduction

Literature review

Data

Methodology

Analysis

Results

Conclusion

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Steps towards writing a Research Paper Form your groups

Brainstorm on research question – should not be too

difficult (stay within the limits of the course)

Identify research question

Write blocks of paper over three months

Submit stuff on time- stick to deadlines

Present updates to class

Revise all drafts and submit a final draft

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Step-1: Brainstorming for research Topics/Ideas*

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*www.umflint.edu/library/research/selecttopic.htm

Brainstorming for topics/ideas: Answer the following questions as HONESTLY as

possible (you must submit this class work to me):Do you have a strong opinion on a current social or political controversy?

Did you read or see a news story recently that has attracted your interest or made you angry or anxious?

Do you have a personal issue, problem or interest that you would like to know more about?

Is there an aspect of macroeconomics that you are interested in learning more about?

Step-2: Brainstorming for research question*

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Read general background information:www.google.com

www.wikipedia.org

Ask Cathy at LIBRARY

Step-2: Brainstorming for research question* Form your groups and sit with them

Please send me an email with the names, IDs and email addresses of all your group mates

Write down the names in the sign-up sheet

Think of economic issues of today’s time-what did you read in the newspapers (when was the last time you read one? ;) NARROW down ISSUE from BROAD TOPIC!!! (A BIG CHALLENGE!)

Brainstorm on research question – should not be toodifficult (stay within the limits of the course)

Develop a research question PROBLEM ORIENTED and INTERESTING and FEASIBLE

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*McGoldrick, KimMarie. Undergraduate research in economics. Economics Network, 2007


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Focus on your topic:Keep it manageable (i.e. limited) by:

Geographical area BHUTAN only OR even more limited (urban versus rural, one Dzongkhag, East versus West)

Culture, time frame and discipline: Bhutan, in the last 10 years, broad social science and/or economics

Population group: adults, children, senior citizens, etc

#AVOID: too local confinement, too recent and too popular stuff HARD to research!


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Make a list of useful keywords

Be flexible

Define your topic as a focused research question (IDEASRESEARCH QUESTIONFOCUSSED RESEARCH QUESTION)

Read more about your topic

Formulate a thesis statement

Step-3: Literature Review* Undertake search for work done on the same topic

before you GOOGLE (general), ECONLIT and GOOGLE SCHOLAR (SPECIFICALLY ACADEMIC) NON-ACADEMIC SOURCES (NEWSPAPERS, etc)

Summarize work done before you

Sell your research convince us WHY YOUR RESEARCH NEEDS TO BE DONE!!?? HOW WILL IT ADD TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE

TOPICS??

Identify an area of potential contribution20


Step-4: Data Sources* Find data that will help you answer your question

Data can be secondary or primary

Online sources of data

Offline sources of data from interviews, etc

Or, collect your own data (time consuming!!)

How to store the data properly? EXCEL

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Step-5: Data Analysis and Results* What methods you will use to analyze the data??

What software to use? EXCEL OR SPSS OR STATA

What sort of reasoning are you using and WHY??

Describe your results

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Step-6: Conclusion* Critically engage with your research question’s

answer!!

Does the evidence answer the question?

How does it compare to other people’s answers in the literature?

Is there an alternative explanation?

What questions remain unanswered?

Are there any policy implications??23


Introduction to writing an undergraduate economics research paper by Tanveer Reza Rouf

Education

undergraduate research

research topicsideas

research needs

question data

research paper eco

examples of research

economics network

data sources