ECM103-Research Methodology

Module Provider: School of Politics, Economics and International Relations
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Dr Nigel Wadeson
Email: N.S.Wadeson@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module develops skills and introduces best practice in research methodology.Ìý It is directed towards preparation and guidance for the dissertation or substantial research project element of a taught economics postgraduate programme.Ìý

Aims:

The primary focus of the module is preliminary preparation for the dissertation or research project which forms a compulsory component of masters programmes taught in the Department of Economics. This involves the motivation, planning of the work, and the description of the research topic, including the question being addresses. Emphasis is placed on establishing a sense of direction with the work, with a view to students beginning work on their supervised research at an early stage.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students will gain an understanding of: the necessary planning and organisation necessary to complete a piece of independent research; the role of deigning and motivating research questions in research; the importance of evidence in pursuing academic arguments and; the need to properly explain the limitations of research and its contributions to the wider academic literature.Ìý

Additional outcomes:

Students will be introduced to the structure of research papers and how to approach the reading of them. An introduction to library resources specific to economists provided by the University's librarian for economics provides knowledge of available services and how to access them. General guidance on academic writing is also provided.

Outline content:

An introduction to the fundamentals of research in economics is provided. Topics may include: the nature of research, getting started, research questions, hypotheses and the counter-factual (robustness and generalisability), library resources, how to gather or collect data, and the writing up and presentation ofÌýresearch findings.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The teaching is mainly undertaken using lectures with the opportunity for student contributions. Lectures are weekly over a period of 5 weeks and last 2 hours.ÌýThere will also be 5 tutorials in the week following the final lecture, during each of which small groups of students will present a hypothetical research proposal on a topic specified by the module convenor.Ìý

Summative assessment- Examinations:

N/A

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

The single piece of work for this module is a detailed research proposal following the structure and principles discussed in the lectures. It is intended that this should be the initial consideration of what will form the final dissertation or research project. The work will be assessed by the module convenor with input from the dissertation/project supervisors. It will also be used to provide advice on academic writing if needed.

Formative assessment methods:

Students will get feedback on a research proposal when they present as part of a group in the seminars.

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy £Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes£, which can be found here: