Economics Department Senior Thesis Information Session Thesis: Thesis: A position or proposition that a person advances and offers to maintain by argument (Merriam-Webster dictionary)

Outline What is research What is research Six steps in the research process Six steps in the research process Developing an effective research question Developing an effective research question Literature search Literature search Organization of final paper Organization of final paper Types of senior theses in economics Types of senior theses in economics Working with an advisor Working with an advisor Deadlines Deadlines Critical review of each source Critical review of each source

What is research Research = creation of knowledge Research = creation of knowledge How to create knowledge How to create knowledge –Construct an argument –Argument must be a position or point of view on a question –Argument must be supported by evidence –Scholars develop competing arguments –Over time, stronger arguments survive

Six steps in the research process Develop an effective research question Develop an effective research question Survey the literature Survey the literature Conceptualize the problem Conceptualize the problem Test the hypothesis Test the hypothesis Analyze and interpret the results Analyze and interpret the results Communicate the findings Communicate the findings

Developing an effective research question Three questions must be answered Three questions must be answered 1.What is the research topic General area (unemployment, pollution, poverty) General area (unemployment, pollution, poverty) 2.What is the research question One-sentence question One-sentence question 3.What is the research hypothesis Proposed answer to your question Proposed answer to your question

Developing an effective research question – How to begin Choose a general topic Choose a general topic –Journal of Economic Literature Classification Start reading the literature Start reading the literature –What has been done –What questions remain –Are there contradictions in the literature Select a research question from the gaps in the literature Select a research question from the gaps in the literature

Developing an effective research question - How to find the gaps in the literature Introduction to articles Introduction to articles –Every article will identify the research question and how it differs from other research in the introduction Conclusion of articles Conclusion of articles –Every article should list its weaknesses and areas for further study in the conclusion

Literature search in economics –Instruction; Course guide; Ecn Econlit (750 journals) Econlit (750 journals) –Limit by subject headings after getting a list of articles PAIS (3,600 sources on public policy) PAIS (3,600 sources on public policy) Social Science Citation Index (1,700 social science journals – search forward) Social Science Citation Index (1,700 social science journals – search forward)

Organization of your final paper Four sections in all empirical papers in economics Four sections in all empirical papers in economics 1.Introduction 2.Literature Review 3.Empirical Analysis 4.Conclusions

Organization of your final paper 1. Introduction 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

Organization of your final paper 2. Literature review and hypothesis What does previous research say about topicWhat does previous research say about topic Each paragraph represents one study Each paragraph represents one study Each paragraph represents one theme Each paragraph represents one theme Summarize gaps in literatureSummarize gaps in literature What is your own hypothesisWhat is your own hypothesis

Organization of your final paper 3. Empirical Analysis Descriptive statisticsDescriptive statistics Regression analysisRegression analysis Before and afterBefore and after Case studiesCase studies ForecastingForecasting

Organization of your final paper 4. Conclusions Restate the hypothesis or research questionRestate the hypothesis or research question 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

Types of theses in economics Propose a new theory Propose a new theory Evaluate an existing theory with data Evaluate an existing theory with data Evaluate existing literature Evaluate existing literature Evaluate current or future policies Evaluate current or future policies Using theory to explain historical situation Using theory to explain historical situation Evaluate historical policies and their consequences in the past Evaluate historical policies and their consequences in the past Predict a future situation based on historical trends Predict a future situation based on historical trends

Recent senior thesis titles in economics An evaluation of the effectiveness of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh An evaluation of the effectiveness of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh The 2001 Bush Tax Cut: Lessons from Reagan and Prospects for the Future The 2001 Bush Tax Cut: Lessons from Reagan and Prospects for the Future An Economic Analysis of United States Drug Control Policy An Economic Analysis of United States Drug Control Policy Analysis of Wage Discrimination in Major League Baseball. Analysis of Wage Discrimination in Major League Baseball. Argentina, Brazil and the Mercosur Agreement: The Importance and Difficulties of Mercosur for Argentina and Brazil Argentina, Brazil and the Mercosur Agreement: The Importance and Difficulties of Mercosur for Argentina and Brazil The Costs and Benefits of the Clean Water Acts The Costs and Benefits of the Clean Water Acts Dollarization in Ecuador: The Crisis and the Aftermath Dollarization in Ecuador: The Crisis and the Aftermath

Working with an advisor Dr. Bailey Dr. Bailey –Economic History, Urban and Regional Planning, Money and Banking, Macroeconomics Dr. Daniels Dr. Daniels –Economic Development, Poverty, Industrial Organization Dr. Dawson Dr. Dawson –Natural Resource Management, Environmental Economics, Industrial Organization, Game Theory Dr. Lynch Dr. Lynch –International Economics, Comparative Economic systems, Public Finance, Economic Development, Income Distribution Dr. Rajaram Dr. Rajaram –Labor Economics, Public Finance, Demography

Deadlines DateTask Submit a general area and preferred advisor to Dr. Lynch via Send a list of articles that you may use to your assigned advisor (use APA style – minimum of 5 peer-reviewed journal articles) articles) Turn in a research question and a critical review (see next slide) of at least 5 sources to your advisor Turn in a draft of your introduction and literature review Turn in a complete draft of your thesis Turn in a revised draft of your thesis Turn in two copies of your final thesis

Critical review of each source What question is the author asking? What answer does the author propose? In what ways does the current study improve 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?