Lecture 1
Grading
1 2 Suggested exercises (end of chapter) 2 exams (Nov 6 & 13)
Office hours
1 hour/day, 11:00am 12:00noon, place TBA
2
Two central objectives: 1. Overview of the conceptual and philosophical basis of research methodology in economics 2. Procedural guidelines on planning, designing, and conducting research projects
Within a discipline, there are accepted rules of evidence and reasoning Research methodology provides the principles for organizing, planning, designing and conducting research. (It does not tell you how to do specific research).
4
Recommendation from the Commission on Graduate Education for Economics in the US (1991)
1. More emphasis on real world problems and the application of economic research to them; 2. More emphasis on communication skills, especially writing, and the ability to relate economic knowledge to the public. FLAW WE TEACH STUDENTS TO KNOW ECONOMICS, BUT WE RARELY TEACH THEM TO DO ECONOMICS (p 6)
8
12
14
Ethridge addresses 2 divergent but related aspects of economic research methodology: Processes of discovery and confirmation
Discovery deals with formulating, finding, and creating new knowledge, information Confirmation deals with validity or reliability of information Discovery is a creative process (art) requiring questioning, probing, pursuing alternative avenues of exploration, etc.. Confirmation is more highly developed and this is the science part of the discipline
15
Ethridge appreciates economic theory, but likes to focus on applied, problem solving issues. the beauty of economics rests in its theory, but the power of economics lies in its application to current problems. His beliefs are a mixture of positivism, normativism, & pragmatism, but mainly pragmatism. He sees economics as both an art and a science
17