RESEARCH METHODS - 2020/1

Module Overview

This module provides an overview of Research Methods employed in Economics, laying the foundations for the dissertation.

Module provider

Economics

Module Leader

RISPOLI Luciano (Economics)

Number of Credits: 60

ECTS Credits: 30

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Information Technology: getting started, Internet, use of library, etc.


• Data Analysis: data sources, econometric methodology, and use of economic theory.


• Computing: hands on module demonstrating of econometrics computer packages such as Eviews and Stata.


• Methodology of Research: what is research, types of research, the research process etc.


• Writing Dissertations and Theses: planning the dissertation, what is expected, presentation of research ideas, and the student-supervisor relationship.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

• their ability to undertake a literature survey


• their ability to develop a suitable methodology for their research questions


• their ability to make optimal use of library resources


• their ability to collect relevant data (if contribution is an empirical analysis)


• their ability to develop theoretical aspects of a substantive topic (if the contribution is a theoretical analysis)


• their ability to apply a specific analytical technique

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Writing a research proposal (typically due week 6 of semester 2).


• Writing a dissertation (submitted in September).

Formative assessment and feedback

The first draft of the research proposal will be submitted in March.  This will be formatively assessed by the supervisor.  The supervisor also provides formative feedback throughout the process of developing, executing and writing up the dissertation research.

Module aims

• Give the experience of independent research and to demonstrate familiarity with a specific area of economics. To that end, students are initially introduced to concepts, methodologies and basic methods of undertaking research in economics.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• prepare the students for the study of economics and econometrics at FHEQ Level 7 (first week)


• reach the minimum levels of competence in quantitative methods

The learning and teaching methods include:

• readings using lecturers guidance


• solving exercises


• responding to questions in class


• preparing and taking part in the test


• 4.5 hours of lectures per week x 1 week


• 2 hour lecture x 21 weeks


• Up to 12 hours contact with supervisor (majority of which is in person) throughout the summer.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ECOM027

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.