This is a very simple introduction to undergraduate economics majors on how to write an effective research paper.

1. Economics: Research
PAPER
ECO 242ECO 242
Spring 2013Spring 2013
Tanveer Reza Rouf

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6. 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 throughWe ask a RESEARCH QUESTION and through
analysis of the DATA, we try and ANSWER thatanalysis of the DATA, we try and ANSWER that
question!question!
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7. 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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8. Structure of a Research Paper
 Introduction
 Literature review
 Data
 Methodology
 Analysis
 Results
 Conclusion
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9. 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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12. 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?

13. Step-2: Brainstorming for research question*
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*www.umflint.edu/library/research/selecttopic.htm
 Read general background information:
www.google.com
www.wikipedia.org
Ask Cathy at LIBRARY

14. 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 too
difficult (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

15. Step-2: Brainstorming for research question*
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*McGoldrick, KimMarie. Undergraduate research in economics. Economics Network, 2007

16. Step-2: Brainstorming for research question*
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*McGoldrick, KimMarie. Undergraduate research in economics. Economics Network, 2007

17. Step-2: Brainstorming for research question*
17
*McGoldrick, KimMarie. Undergraduate research in economics. Economics Network, 2007

18. Step-2: Brainstorming for research question*
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*www.umflint.edu/library/research/selecttopic.htm
 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!

19. Step-2: Brainstorming for research question*
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*www.umflint.edu/library/research/selecttopic.htm
 Make a list of useful keywords
 Be flexible
 Define your topic as a focused research question
(IDEASRESEARCH
QUESTIONFOCUSSED RESEARCH
QUESTION)
 Read more about your topic
 Formulate a thesis statement

20. 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 contribution 20
*McGoldrick, KimMarie. Undergraduate research in economics. Economics Network, 2007

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

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

23. 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??
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*McGoldrick, KimMarie. Undergraduate research in economics. Economics Network, 2007