2018/19 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS2430 Economics Research Methods

10 creditsClass Size: 225

Module manager: Peter Howley
Email: P.Howley@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module aims to provide joint honours students with skills in research methods to equip them to do a final year project in Economics. It will deliver material on core issues of research, such as literature reviews and research design; and on both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis as used in economics.

Objectives

This module aims to:
- Provide joint honours students with skills in research methods to equip them to do a final year project in Economics;
- Engage students with material on core issues of research; and on both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis as used in economics;
- Develop skills of independent learning via execution of a research mini-project.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Organise and execute an independent research mini-project on a relevant topic;
- Collect and analyse relevant data;
- Evaluate research methodologies in economics.

Skills outcomes
This module will develop the ability to gather and use economic data.

Syllabus

Indicative content:
- What is a research project?
- Literature reviews
- Principles of research design/types of research project, including case study
- Quantitative data collection: surveys and questionnaires
- Quantitative data collection: secondary sources (and its limitations)
- Quantitative data analysis
- Qualitative data collection
- Qualitative data analysis
- Finalising and extending your research project

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	12	1.00	12.00
Practical	1	2.00	2.00
Seminar	3	1.00	3.00
Private study hours			83.00
Total Contact hours			17.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

This module is designed to help students develop the skills of independent learning, specifically the ability to design and execute a research project in Economics. Hence, the module delivery and assessment are non-typical. The teaching (whole group sessions and seminars) is front-loaded, so as to equip students with the main basic concepts which they can then apply to their research project. Later sessions act as surgeries. This means that as the module progresses, private study becomes more important. Private study will also be supported by opportunities for formative feedback provided within the module.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will be asked to submit a 'basic information set' which outlines what their research mini-project will be about, what reading they have done, what data they have, and how they plan to execute their work. They will also be allowed to submit a draft introduction. They can get formative feedback on both of these. The first will indicate the feasibility of the mini-project and allow us to identify struggling students and give guidance so as to avoid complete failure. The second will offer more detailed feedback on structure, style and again on the developing research method being deployed.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	3,000 word Project Report	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The resit for this module will be 100% by coursework.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 12/12/2018 10:48:53

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