Research Process

The Research Project is the complement of the Local Case Study. The Local Case Study serve two purposes: to understand and feel the importance of a development goal; to reflect about the different context of a development goal within a developed nation (the local case) and within a developing country (the country chosen for the research project)


.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.Research Project

Learning objectives of your project 

  • Learning to use economic models to explain social and economic  issues. 
  • Exposure to research processes in development economics. 
  • Learning to write for a development agency, a planning office, a research department,  or a newspaper or publication.

Choosing a subject for the paper:

Suggested topics for the research project of this year: 

  • Topics about developing countries 
    • Sources of economic growth in the agricultural sector of a country or groups of countries. 
    • Sources of deforestation in a developing country. 
    • International trade as a source of economic growth for a country as a whole. 
    • Women and gender issues in economic development 
    • The causes poverty in Africa (or Asia or Latin America)
    • Structural Adjustments and Growth in Latin America (or Asia)
  • Topics about the North Bay Area 
    • Civic engagement and community participation of Hispanic (or Asian) students.
    • Economic Planning in a North Bay Area County (using simulation models). 
    • Economic Impact of the Horse Industry in North Bay Counties 
    • Economic Impact of the Grape-Wine Industry in North Bay Counties 
  • For other kind of subjects talk with the instructor. 

Steps of the research project

  • Choose a question or problem for research. 
    • Prepare a one page research proposal or outline 
    • Narrow down your question 
  • Identify and review existing bibliography about your question 
    • Computer search in SSU library 
    • At least, four of your major sources shall be books or professional journals in the field of economic development. Weekly magazines, newspapers, and encyclopedias shall be used in limited ways. 
  • Choose a relevant conceptual framework within the field of economic development. 
  • Look for data 
    • Time series 
    • Cross-section 
    • Maps 
    • Case studies
  • Choose a handy methodology
    • Choosing an approach
      • Time series analysis
      • Cross section analysis
      • Case studies
    • Choosing a data processing method
      • Graphic method
      • Statistical methods like regression or variance analysis
      • Accounting method like benefit-cost analysis, cost-effectiveness, or social accounting.
    • Choosing a computational tool
      • Spreadsheet (Excel, QuatroPro, Lotus, others)
      • Statistical Program
      • Simulation Model
  • Interpreting your findings.
  • Writing the paper 
    • look at a book on style writing 
  • Presentation of Research Report 
    • Teacher's evaluation of the Term Paper 
    • Revision and rewriting of the Term Paper 
    • Presentation of Revised Research Report 

Paper format 

  • Text: Between 4 and 6 pages, double space. 
  • You can add to the text appendixes and supporting data like statistical tables. 
  • Typed or word processed. 

Approaches for writing 


 
 
 

Students Ideas for a Research Project 

A. On Economic Growth and Human Welfare

Yesterday I talked with Dia about her research project. She wanted to know how is that Costa Rica has had a stable and prosperous economy relative to other countries in the region. This is a very relevant question for less developed countries. My task was to help here narrow down her question as to generate a doable project. 

I presented two alternatives to Dia. 

1. Let's ask the question "What explain the sources of economic growth in Costa Rica?" This kind of question has to be explored with time series data for 20 years or more. The data exists in the World Bank Tables. 

2. Let's ask the question "What explain the differences in growth rates between the Central American and the Caribbean countries? This kind of question has to be explored with cross-section data. 

Dia Thought that the second question was more appropriated for her interests, because it will allow her to investigate the factor that "made a difference." 

We agree that her fist task was to review literature about economic growth in Costa Rica and other countries of the region. To have an idea of the historical records and geographic context, as well to find out how economist approach her question. 

Next she needs to choose a conceptual framework. I suggested to her to use the "sources of growth" model. An explanation of the model is in our text book. We will meet again to discuss how to adapt this model to her particular questions. 

In addition she has to find data to the research. In her case it will be simple because of the World Bank Tables and other links that I have in my home page. 

Once she is comfortable with the conceptual framework and the data she needs to choose a methodology. The research question define the explained variable (also called dependent variable) and the conceptual framework identifies possible explanatory variables (also called independent variables). Once we have a set of propositions or hypothesis about their relationships we need a method to verify what is happening in the specific case of Central America and the Caribbean. Some possibilities: a graphic method; a numerical table method; a multiple regression method; a case study method; and so for. 

B. On Economic Growth and Agricultural Sustainability

Today I had a new conversation with Joshua about his project on agricultural sustainability. His initial interest was on a micro economic study of the feasibility of agro ecological practices. Due to the lack of data he decided to tackle the issue of sustainability by means of a more macro approach using the F.A.O. data bank. 

The question: What explain the differences in food production between Sub-Saharan countries and Southern African countries? What has been the role of agricultural land use? 

He will review the literature of food production in Africa trying to identify different explanations for the uneven performance of Sub Saharan countries (stagnation and famine in some cases) and South African countries (food production growth). 

Data: He will use F.A.O. data bank. The link is in my home page. 

Conceptual Framework: an adaptation of sources of growth model.

Methodology: A comparative analysis based on cross-section data. Building of tables and graphs using Excel.