Economics Research Tips, Study notes of Qualitative research

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Lecture 3

Planning the Research

Organization of this lecture Planning the Research: The Research Project Proposal Elements of the Research Proposal Evaluating Research Proposals Importance of Flexibility Funding for Economic Research Importance of Writing Writing Guidelines and Tips

The Research Project Proposal

A research plan is the key to successful research.

The approach to the research needs to be

carefully constructed and designed.

• “the heart of the research plan is the research proposal”

The intent is not to limit creativity …

the most insightful discovery usually occur within

structured inquiry.

Proposals are generally required by all entities that support or encourage research They can seek financial support or simply serve as a guide for the research. The most stringent and complex are Ph.D. dissertation proposals. Some funding sources (eg. industry groups), may prefer short, concise plans without “academic” aspects. Frequently a proposal may be delivered orally (but these are usually backed by a written proposal).

Elements of the Research Proposal Although varying in complexity and form, there are common elements to all proposals. The figure below shows components and linkages.

Title Project title should be descriptive of the main focus, but no longer than necessary NOT a detailed description – but still provide an accurate impression of the central focus

• eg. “An Economic Study of the Impacts of Lowering Import Tariffs on Textiles on Consumers, Textile Manufacturers, and Fiber Producers in the U.S.”
• BETTER:
• “Lowering Import Tariffs on U.S. Textiles: Effects on Consumers and Industries”

Problem identification and explanation Description of the problem being addressed by the research and the rationale for the proposed objectives Often, a two step procedure:

• Develop a general perspective of the broad problem area
• Focus on the part of the problem area to be studied, within resource constraints of the project This is the reason (justification) for the research.

Objectives

Objectives specify precisely what the

proposed research will discover or

accomplish

- identifying the goals of the research, not the means.

• Universally required in research proposals
• Usually best stated as a one-sentence general objective (or

goal) and a list of specific objectives

• Objectives are justified by the problem statement and

provide direction to the methods and

procedures 11

Conceptual framework Not a universal requirement of research proposals, but helps to reduce serious logical errors in research It is a conceptual analysis of the research problem Helps to assure that researchers are examining the problem with appropriate concepts The primary purpose of some disciplinary research may be to develop a conceptual framework.

Methods and Procedures These describe how the objectives will be achieved – flow directly from objectives They address:

• how will data be generated or collected
• analytical techniques to be used
• sequence of procedures Methods and procedures in student research proposals should be very detailed

Evaluating Research Proposals Evaluation involves assessing the soundness and merit of the research plan. The evaluators look for evidence of clarity and quality of thought – which reflects on the likely quality of the research to be conducted. Planning the research and writing the proposal is often the most difficult part of the research process.

A. Is the investigator interested in the problem? B. Is there a genuine lack of knowledge related to the problem? C. Is the research needed by other people? D. Are the objectives:

**1. appropriate to the problem?

2. Attainable?
3. Observable or measureable?
4. Sufficiently specific?** Typical Criteria for Evaluation

Importance of Flexibility

The research plan may need to be altered,

as the research progresses.

Often the researcher learns factors during

research which can improve the design or

procedures.

• “the project proposal is an asset …
• but must not become a straightjacket”

Major revisions of a research proposal require

approval from the granting agency.

Funding for Economic Research There is little direct support (public or private) for disciplinary economic research

• There is a perceived “lack of benefit” of such research since it doesn’t deal with applied matters.
• Disciplinary research is often directed to the inability of current theories to provide insight into current issues There is however public support for applied problem- solving and subject-matter research in economics.
• Understand and predict economic phenomenon and the effects of social and political actions.