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Course

ECN305 Research Methods in Economics

Credits (ECTS):5

Course responsible:Abinet Tilahun Aweke

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:125 hours

Teaching and exam period:The course starts in the Autumn parallel. The course has teaching/assessment in the Autumn parallel.

About this course

The course will cover the following topics: How to find good research questions? How to write a literature review? How to write a thesis and research proposal? In addition, the course will cover: General writing rules; Field research methods; Social science surveys, including sampling, questionnaire design and analysis; Secondary data; Experimental methods; Impact studies; and an Introduction to Stata.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

  • has an overview of the state of knowledge within their chosen topic
  • is familiar with different research designs and data collection methods in economics

Skills

  • can write a short literature review
  • can formulate researchable research questions and construct hypotheses
  • can identify relevant data sources, either accessing existing data sources or through a plan to collect their own data
  • can demonstrate insight into the methods used to compile and analyse the data

General competence

  • can apply their knowledge and skills to develop and present an independent research project
  • can communicate academic reasoning related to literature, research design, and methodological choices
  • Learning activities
    Lectures and short videos that students must watch beforehand to then solve group tasks. Presentations with discussion, and responding to comments provided by peers. Individual supervision while writing the research proposal for the master thesis.
  • Teaching support
    Students will be allocated a supervisor for their MSc thesis at the beginning of this course. The supervisors will discuss research topics and give close supervision during the writing of the research proposals. Please note that the project proposal the students conduct in this course might not end up as the problem statement for their master thesis. Hence, the supervisor might be changed in accordance with the changed problem statement.
  • Syllabus

    The course literature consists of selected book chapters and journal articles. The following are part of the core reading:

    • Selected chapters from Angelsen, A., Larsen, H. O., & Smith Olsen, C. (2012). Measuring Livelihoods and Environmental Dependence: Methods for Research and Fieldwork. Routledge.
    • Cooper, H. M. (1988). Organizing knowledge syntheses: A taxonomy of literature reviews. Knowledge in Society, 1(1), 104-126.
    • Randolph, J. (2009). A guide to writing the dissertation literature review. Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 14(1), 13.
  • Prerequisites

    Basic knowledge of economic theory and method, e.g. ECN211 Intermediate Microeconomics - Institutions, Games and Market Failures or ECN210 Intermediate Microeconomics- Consumers, Producers, Market and Welfare and ECN222 Macroeconomics II - Models and Policy, ECN201 Econometrics.

    Only for master students in Applied Economics and Sustainability.

  • Assessment method
    A semester assignment (research proposal) is given before the end of the semester and makes up 100% of the final grade (pass/fail). No re-examination.

    Term paper Karakterregel: Passed / Not Passed Hjelpemiddel: C3 All types of calculators, all other aids – including digital aids
  • About use of AI

    Mandatory activity and assessment:

    K3 - Full use of AI. Use of AI is permitted, but must be in accordance with the guidelines for use of artificial intelligence (AI) at NMBU

    Descriptions of AI-category codes.

  • Examiner scheme
    Internal examiners will be used to assess the semester assignment.
  • Mandatory activity
    There will be mandatory group assignments throughout the course. In addition, there will be two individual mandatory activities: (1) a preliminary research proposal; and (2) a Stata exercise. Mandatory activities must be completed again when retaking the course. All mandatory activities must be approved to pass the final examination.
  • Notes

    The course is in English. Incoming students can contact student advisors at the School of Economics and Business (studieveileder-hh@nmbu.no) for admission to the course.

    The course gives an introduction to research methods that are relevant for the Master thesis. It is particularly useful for students planning to collect own data, but it also covers research methods more generally. The project description is the first step in the work on the master thesis.

  • Teaching hours
    2x2 hours per week the first half of the term and 1x2 hours the second half of the term.
  • Admission requirements
    Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse).