Senior Obligation

8/4/2019 Senior Obligation

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Economics Departmentconomics DepartmentSenior Thesis Informationenior Thesis InformationSessionessionThesis:Thesis: A position or proposition that aperson advances and offers to maintain

by argument (Merriam-Websterdictionary)


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Outlineutl ine What is researchWhat is research Six steps in the research processSix steps in the research process

Developing an effective research questionDeveloping an effective research question Literature searchLiterature search Organization of final paperOrganization of final paper Types of senior theses in economicsTypes of senior theses in economics

Working with an advisorWorking with an advisor DeadlinesDeadlines Critical review of each sourceCritical review of each source


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What is researchhat is research Research = creation of knowledgeResearch = creation of knowledge How to create knowledgeHow to create knowledge

Construct an argumentConstruct an argumentArgument must be a position or point ofArgument must be a position or point of

view on a questionview on a question

Argument must be supported by evidenceArgument must be supported by evidence

Scholars develop competing argumentsScholars develop competing arguments

Over time, stronger arguments surviveOver time, stronger arguments survive


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Six steps in the researchix steps in the researchprocessrocess Develop an effective research questionDevelop an effective research question

Survey the literatureSurvey the literature

Conceptualize the problemConceptualize the problem

Test the hypothesisTest the hypothesis

Analyze and interpret the resultsAnalyze and interpret the results Communicate the findingsCommunicate the findings


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Developing an effectiveeveloping an effectiveresearch questionesearch question Three questions must be answeredThree questions must be answered

1.1. What is the research topicWhat is the research topic General area (unemployment, pollution,General area (unemployment, pollution,

poverty)poverty)

1.1. What is the research questionWhat is the research question One-sentence questionOne-sentence question

1.1. What is the research hypothesisWhat is the research hypothesis Proposed answer to your questionProposed answer to your question


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Developing an effective researcheveloping an effective researchquestion How to beginuestion How to begin Choose a general topicChoose a general topic

Journal of Economic Literature ClassificationJournal of Economic Literature Classification http://http://www.aeaweb.org/journal/jel_class_system.htmlwww.aeaweb.org/journal/jel_class_system.html

Start reading the literatureStart reading the literature What has been doneWhat has been done

What questions remainWhat questions remain

Are there contradictions in the literatureAre there contradictions in the literature Select a research question from the gaps inSelect a research question from the gaps in

the literaturethe literature
http://www.aeaweb.org/journal/jel_class_system.htmlhttp://www.aeaweb.org/journal/jel_class_system.htmlhttp://www.aeaweb.org/journal/jel_class_system.htmlhttp://www.aeaweb.org/journal/jel_class_system.htmlhttp://www.aeaweb.org/journal/jel_class_system.htmlhttp://www.aeaweb.org/journal/jel_class_system.html


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Developing an effective researcheveloping an effective researchquestion - How to find the gaps inuestion - How to find the gaps inthe l iteraturehe l iterature Introduction to articlesIntroduction to articles

Every article will identify the researchEvery article will identify the research

question and how it differs from otherquestion and how it differs from other

research in the introductionresearch in the introduction

Conclusion of articlesConclusion of articles

Every article should list its weaknessesEvery article should list its weaknessesand areas for further study in theand areas for further study in the

conclusionconclusion


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Literature search initerature search ineconomicsconomics http://http://libraryweb.washcoll.edulibraryweb.washcoll.edu

Instruction; Course guide; Ecn 410-10Instruction; Course guide; Ecn 410-10

Econlit (750 journals)Econlit (750 journals) Limit by subject headings after getting a list ofLimit by subject headings after getting a list of

articlesarticles

PAIS (3,600 sources on public policy)PAIS (3,600 sources on public policy)

Social Science Citation Index (1,700 socialSocial Science Citation Index (1,700 social

science journals search forward)science journals search forward)
http://libraryweb.washcoll.edu/http://libraryweb.washcoll.edu/http://libraryweb.washcoll.edu/http://libraryweb.washcoll.edu/http://libraryweb.washcoll.edu/http://libraryweb.washcoll.edu/


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Organization of yourrganization of yourfinal paperinal paper Four sections in all empirical papersFour sections in all empirical papers

in economicsin economics

1.1. IntroductionIntroduction

2.2. Literature ReviewLiterature Review

3.3. Empirical AnalysisEmpirical Analysis

4.4. ConclusionsConclusions


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Organization of yourrganization of yourfinal paperinal paper1.1. IntroductionIntroduction

Define general topicDefine general topic

What research has been done on this alreadyWhat research has been done on this already What are gaps in literatureWhat are gaps in literature

Define your specific research questionDefine your specific research question

How will you answer your question (method)How will you answer your question (method)

Order of remaining paperOrder of remaining paper


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Organization of yourrganization of yourfinal paperinal paper2.2. Literature review and hypothesisLiterature review and hypothesis

What does previous research say aboutWhat does previous research say about

topictopic Each paragraph represents one studyEach paragraph represents one study

Each paragraph represents one themeEach paragraph represents one theme

Summarize gaps in literatureSummarize gaps in literature What is your own hypothesisWhat is your own hypothesis


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Organization of yourrganization of yourfinal paperinal paper3.3. Empirical AnalysisEmpirical Analysis

Descriptive statisticsDescriptive statistics

Regression analysisRegression analysis

Before and afterBefore and after

Case studiesCase studies

ForecastingForecasting


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Organization of yourrganization of yourfinal paperinal paper4.4. ConclusionsConclusions

Restate the hypothesis or researchRestate the hypothesis or research

questionquestion Summarize your resultsSummarize your results

Did you confirm your hypothesisDid you confirm your hypothesis

Weaknesses of your studyWeaknesses of your study Areas for further studyAreas for further study

No new citations, tables, or footnotesNo new citations, tables, or footnotes


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Types of theses inypes of theses ineconomicsconomics Propose a new theoryPropose a new theory Evaluate an existing theory with dataEvaluate an existing theory with data

Evaluate existing literatureEvaluate existing literature Evaluate current or future policiesEvaluate current or future policies Using theory to explain historical situationUsing theory to explain historical situation Evaluate historical policies and theirEvaluate historical policies and their

consequences in the pastconsequences in the past Predict a future situation based on historicalPredict a future situation based on historical

trendstrends


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Recent senior thesisecent senior thesistit les in economicsit les in economics An evaluation of the effectiveness of the Grameen BankAn evaluation of the effectiveness of the Grameen Bank

in Bangladeshin Bangladesh The 2001 Bush Tax Cut: Lessons from Reagan andThe 2001 Bush Tax Cut: Lessons from Reagan and

Prospects for the FutureProspects for the Future An Economic Analysis of United States Drug ControlAn Economic Analysis of United States Drug Control

PolicyPolicy Analysis of Wage Discrimination in Major LeagueAnalysis of Wage Discrimination in Major League

Baseball.Baseball. Argentina, Brazil and the Mercosur Agreement: TheArgentina, Brazil and the Mercosur Agreement: The

Importance and Difficulties of Mercosur for ArgentinaImportance and Difficulties of Mercosur for Argentinaand Braziland Brazil

The Costs and Benefits of the Clean Water ActsThe Costs and Benefits of the Clean Water Acts Dollarization in Ecuador: The Crisis and the AftermathDollarization in Ecuador: The Crisis and the Aftermath


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Working with an advisororking with an advisor Dr. BaileyDr. Bailey

Economic History, Urban and Regional Planning, Money andEconomic History, Urban and Regional Planning, Money andBanking, MacroeconomicsBanking, Macroeconomics

Dr. DanielsDr. Daniels

Economic Development, Poverty, Industrial OrganizationEconomic Development, Poverty, Industrial Organization Dr. DawsonDr. Dawson

Natural Resource Management, Environmental Economics,Natural Resource Management, Environmental Economics,Industrial Organization, Game TheoryIndustrial Organization, Game Theory

Dr. LynchDr. Lynch International Economics, Comparative Economic systems, PublicInternational Economics, Comparative Economic systems, Public

Finance, Economic Development, Income DistributionFinance, Economic Development, Income Distribution Dr. RajaramDr. Rajaram

Labor Economics, Public Finance, DemographyLabor Economics, Public Finance, Demography


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DeadlineseadlinesDate Task

4-18-05 Submit a general area and preferred advisor to Dr. Lynch viaemail

5-2-05 Send a list of articles that you may use to your assigned advisor

(use APA style minimum of 5 peer-reviewed journalarticles)

9-19-05 Turn in a research question and a critical review (see next slide)of at least 5 sources to your advisor

12-9-05 Turn in a draft of your introduction and literature review

3-10-06 Turn in a complete draft of your thesis

4-10-06 Turn in a revised draft of your thesis

4-28-06 Turn in two copies of your final thesis


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Crit ical review of eachrit ical review of eachsourceource What question is the author asking?

What answer does the author propose?

In what ways does the current studyimprove over previous research?

How does the proposed answer differ from

that provided by previous research? What empirical evidence does the author

provide or what method does s/he use?

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