ECO 591 RESEARCH METHODS

The Design of Economic Research Project

1. Statement of the Research Problem

2. Research Thesis

3. Essence and Techniques of Literature Review

4. Methodology:

   • survey method

   • historical method

   • econometric method

   • experimental designs

   • etc.

5. Estimation, Diagnostic Tests, and Evaluation of Hypothesis

6. Inferences and Conclusions

Basic Issues in Interpreting Micro and Macroeconomic Data

1. The Base Year, Scaling of Data, Summary Indicators, Nominal and Real Magnitudes

2. Implication of Missing Observations, Small Samples, Poor Quality of Data, and Inconsistencies of Data for Economic Analysis and Inference

3. Procedures for Managing Data:

   • interpolations

   • extrapolations

4. Sampling and Sampling Design (Design and Validation of Research Instrument):

   • sample selection procedure

   • techniques of questionnaire design and administration

5. Procedures for Data Collation (Scoring and Coding for Computer Analysis)

6. Random Variables and Probability Distributions