Doing Economics : A Guide to Understanding and Carrying Out Economic Research

by Greenlaw, Steven A.

• ISBN13: 9780618379835
• ISBN10: 0618379835
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-05-27
• Publisher: South-Western College Pub

Summary

This handy reference text provides undergraduate students with a practical introduction to research methodology. Doing Economics makes students aware of what experienced researchers know implicitly: research is fundamentally a process of constructing persuasive arguments supported by theory and empirical evidence. As a result, students learn how to implement critical-reading, writing, and online research skills to produce valid and reliable research. Numerous examples (including scholarly writing and student samples) help to highlight what does and does not work in research. Boxes feature tips and guidelines for novice researchers on a variety of topics, including how to read research critically. End-of-chapter exercises provide unique activities and opportunities for students to apply what they have learned. A textbook web site serves as both a clearinghouse and reference center for writing and research in economics.

Table of Contents

Note: All chapters contain a Summary, Suggestions for Further Reading, and Exercises

What Is Research?

Research Is the Creation of Knowledge

How Are Arguments Evaluated?

Appendix 1A: The Range of Economic Methodologies

Overview of the Research Process Research in Science and Nonscience

Disciplines Steps of the Research

Process for Economics

Appendix 2A: Writing the Research Proposal

Appendix 2B: Questions for Evaluating a Research Proposal

Surveying the Existing Knowledge about a Topic

Why Is a Literature Survey Necessary?

Where to Search: Popular Versus Scholarly Literature

How to Search: Developing an Effective Search

Strategy Obtaining the Resources

Appendix 3A: Scholarly References and Citation Styles

Using Writing as a Tool for Economic Research

Writing to Learn Composition as a Creative Process

The Structure of an Argument Examining an Argument

Three Types of Reasoning: Deductive, Inductive, and Warrant-Based What Makes for a Persuasive Argument?

Appendix 4A: Logical Fallacies

Economic Writing/Writing as a Product

What is Economic Writing

Writing the First Draft

Revising the Paper Writing Style

Writing Mechanics

Critical Reading or How to Understand Published Research

Making Sense of Published Research

Taking Research Notes and Writing Abstracts and Critical Reviews

Appendix 6a: How to critically read a purely theoretical study

Conceptualizing the Model

What Does It Mean to Apply Theory to a Research Topic?

What Is Theorizing?

Narrative Reasoning Mathematical Reasoning A Commonly Used Shortcut What Makes a Good Research Hypothesis?

Locating and Collecting Economic Data

Data Creation

The Structure of Economic Data Organizations That Collect and Publish

Data Major Primary Data Collections

Major Secondary Data Collections

Appendix 8A: Overview of Data Sources

Putting Together

Your Data Set Developing a Search Strategy for Finding

Your Data Data Manipulation

Constructing a Data Appendix to Your Research

Appendix 9a: What Are Chained-Dollars?

Appendix 9b: Example of a Data

Appendix 10. A First Look at Empirical Testing: Creating a Valid Research

Design Key Issues of Research

Design How Does One Analyze Data?

Random Variation in Human Behavior

Statistical Methods

Simple Statistical Hypothesis

Training Confounding Variable

Causal Validity

Appendix 10A: Table of Critical t-Statistics

Introduction to Econometrics Steps in Regression Analysis

Appendix 11A: Data Transformations for Regression

Analyses Estimation Using Qualitative Variables

Communicating the Results of Economic Research

Writing the Research Report Presenting Research Orally

Appendix 12A: Rubric for Grading Research Papers

Glossary

Reference List

Index

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