Ficha

Versión en español

Course: 2024/2025

Advanced Research Methods

(15642)

Master in Economic Development and Growth (Plan: 242 - Estudio: 255)

EPC

Coordinating teacher: SANTIAGO CABALLERO, CARLOS

Department assigned to the subject: Social Sciences Department

Type: Electives

ECTS Credits: 3.0 ECTS

Course: 1º

Semester: 1º

Requirements (Subjects that are assumed to be known)

Basic understanding of research methods in social sciences.

Objectives

- to learn to design an academic research project - to develop a research project on the basis of the existing literature - to position a reseach project within the existing literature and to evaluate its originality and contribution to the state of knowledge - to identify the relevant bibliography - to search for qualitative and quantitative sources and construct databases

Skills and learning outcomes

Link to document

Description of contents: programme

- How to formulate a hypothesis - How to design and develop a research project - Identifying the relevant bibliography - How to find data and construct a database - Data processing - Discussion of results

Learning activities and methodology

Theoretical knowledge is acquired by: - Lectures in which the basic techniques and know-how to be known by the student are presented. Training of abilities and skills by - Sessions on finding data and identifying bibliography using bibliographic databases, etc. (presential sessions or at-home assignments) that are related to the content of the Master degree - Application of the research methods to a specific investigation during the course, normally related to the topic chosen by each student for her/his master thesis

Assessment System

% end-of-term-examination 60
% of continuous assessment (assigments, laboratory, practicals...) 40

Calendar of Continuous assessment

The assessment during the course will make up 40% of the final mark.
It will consist of
-	Class participation: 10%. Short interventions, connecting the topics and ideas explained in class, will form the basis of this assessment. The instructor will present theoretical questions, assumptions, practical issues, etc. for debate. Also the discussion of individual presentations is part of this evaluation.
-	Presentation of a research plan on a specific topic (based on the existing literature): 30%. The instructor comments and corrects texts and presentations to be handed in during the course.
The final exam will make up the rest of the mark (60%). It will consist of a written exam to assess the degree of acquisition of the named abilities and knowledge by the student. 
All this according to the legislation in force.

Re-sit examinations will consist on the same format as the previous one, where the student will have to submit a research proposal with the date fixed for the exam as deadline.

Basic Bibliography

Blaxter, Lorraine, Hughes, Christina, Tight, Malcolm. How to research. Open University Press. 2006
Dunleavy, Patrick. Authoring a PhD. How to Plan, Draft, Write and Finish a Doctoral Thesis or Dissertation. Palgrave Macmillan. 2003
Ragin, Charles C.. Constructing social research: the unity and diversity of method. Pine Forge Press. 1994
Umberto Eco. Come si fa una tesi di laurea. Saggio. 1977

Additional Bibliography

Angrist, J.D./Pischke, J.-S.. Mostly Harmless Econometrics: An Empiricist's Companion. Princeton University Press. 2009
Estelle M Phillips, Derek S Pugh. How to Get a PhD. Open University Press. 2000
Gary Koop. Analysis of Economic Data. Wiley. 2009
Jeffrey M. Wooldridge. Introductory Econometrics. A Modern Approach. Thompson. 2006
McCloskey, Deirdre N. Economical Writing. Waveland. 2000
Miller, Jane E.. The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis. Chicago University Press. 2006
Ravaillon, Martin. Evaluating Anti-Poverty Programs (Handbook of Development Economics, Vol. 4, pp. 3787-3846). Amsterdam: Elsevier. 2007

The course syllabus may change due academic events or other reasons.