Ag Econ 8010 Research Methodology Fall 2014 Monday and Wednesday 9 30 10 45am 142 Mumford Hall 3 credit hours Instructor Harvey James 146 Mumford Hall 573 884 9682 HJames missouri edu Course Description In this course students will examine the nature of the research process explore the connection between theory and empirical methods in applied economics research identify viable research topics critique published research learn how to structure good arguments understand the structure of research papers and proposals and plan and manage research activities Students will also write a thesis dissertation proposal or research paper and receive Institutional Review Board training Prerequisite graduate standing Required Readings 1 Don Ethridge Research Methodology in Applied Economics Blackwell Publishing 2004 Click here to order from Amazon com 2 Articles and other assigned readings Recommended Readings 1 Wayne Booth Gregory Colomb and Joseph Williams The Craft of Research 3 e University of Chicago Press 2008 Click here to order from Amazon com 2 Paul Leedy and Jeanne Ormrod Practical Research Planning and Design 8 e Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall 2005 Click here to order from Amazon com 3 Steven Greenlaw Doing Economics A Guide to Understanding and Carrying Out Economic Research Houghton Mifflin Company 2006 Click here to order from Amazon com 4 William Thompson A Guide for the Young Economist MIT Press 2011 Click here to order from Amazon com 5 Deirdre McCloskey Economical Writing Waveland Press 1999 Click here to order from Amazon com Course Requirements A principal objective of this class is for you to develop a draft of a publishable research paper and or a research proposal whether for a thesis dissertation or grant Developing a draft of a publishable paper is required for PhD students You are expected to read the assigned material before class and to come to class prepared to ask and answer questions particularly those that are pertinent to your research interests As you prepare for class think about how your participation can advance your research objectives Course requirements include the following Attendance participation Assignments Brief reports on 4 departmental seminars Research paper or proposal Total 25 25 25 25 100 Academic Honesty Academic honesty is fundamental to the activities and principles of a university All members of the academic community must be confident that each person s work has been responsibly and honorably acquired developed and presented Any effort to gain an advantage not given to all students is dishonest whether or not the effort is successful The academic community regards academic dishonesty as an extremely serious matter with serious consequences that range from probation to expulsion When in doubt about plagiarism paraphrasing quoting or collaboration consult the course instructor With that said if I find evidence that you have plagiarized I reserve the right to give you a grade of zero on the assignment and to report the incident to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies room 111 Jesse and the department chair Disabilities If you need accommodations because of a disability if you have emergency medical information to share with me or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated please inform me immediately Please see me privately after class or at my office To request academic accommodations for example a notetaker students must also register with the Office of Disability Services http disabilityservices missouri edu S5 Memorial Union 882 4696 It is the campus office responsible for reviewing documentation provided by students requesting academic accommodations and for accommodations planning in cooperation with students and instructors as needed and consistent with course requirements For other MU resources for students with disabilities click on Disability Resources on the MU homepage Intellectual Pluralism The University community welcomes intellectual diversity and respects student rights Students who have questions concerning the quality of instruction in this class may address concerns to either the Departmental Chair or Divisional leader or Director of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities http osrr missouri edu All students will have the opportunity to submit an anonymous evaluation of the instructor s at the end of the course Disclaimer This syllabus and the discussion and reading schedule are subject to change to facilitate instructional and or student needs Discussion and Reading Schedule The following schedule indicates the topics and readings for our class meetings Chapters from Ethridge are in the textbook required for the course All articles are in the Course Documents section of Blackboard Please read the assigned material before class The schedule is preliminary and subject to change so check back frequently for updates Week 1 August 25 27 Topic Getting started life as a graduate student examples and types of research thinking about research questions and problems Readings Ethridge ch 1 McCloskey How To Be a Good Graduate Student Eastern Economic Journal 26 4 2000 pp 487 490 Akerlof Writing the The Market for Lemons A Personal Interpretive Essay Nobelprize org 2003 Weeks 2 3 September 3 8 10 Topic Practical and philosophical foundations of research process of research and scholarship identifying and reading relevant literature constructing arguments scientific method deductive v inductive research logical fallacies Readings Ethridge ch 2 3 4 5 Appendix E Booth Colomb and Williams Making Good Arguments An Overview The Craft of Research University of Chicago Press 2008 ch 7 Sagan The Fine Art of Baloney Detection The Demon Haunted World Science as a Candle in the Dark New York Ballantine Books 1996 pp 208 218 Weeks 4 5 September 15 17 22 24 Topic The research problem structure of papers and proposals problem statements objectives literature review Readings Ethridge ch 6 7 Appendix A B C Week 6 September 29 October 1 Topic Thinking critically evaluating research journal rankings Readings Ethridge Appendix D Smith The Task of the Referee IEEE 1990 Pannell Reviewing Journal Articles 2006 Weeks 7 8 October 6 8 13 15 Topic Economic theory and model building distinctiveness of economic methodology modeling to answer your research question conceptual framework hypothesis formation prediction v explanation Readings Ethridge ch 8 Leijonhufvud Life Among the Econ Western Economic Journal 11 3