Lesson 15.5: The Independent Research Project

Introduction

Welcome to Lesson 15.5, students! 🎉 Today, we will dive into the exciting world of conducting independent research in economics. Understanding how to carry out a research project is crucial for your success in university. This lesson will help you choose a researchable question, plan your project, find and evaluate sources, draft your findings, and present them effectively.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Choose and narrow a researchable economic question.
• Plan a research project: aims, sources, structure, and a realistic timeline.
• Search for and evaluate academic and statistical sources.
• Draft, redraft, and edit an extended, referenced piece of academic writing.
• Present findings and reflect on the research process in preparation for undergraduate independent study.

Choosing and Narrowing a Researchable Economic Question

The first step in conducting your independent research project is to select a question that interests you and is specific enough to explore in depth. A vague question will lead to unclear research outcomes. Here's a method to help you narrow your focused question:

1. Start broad: Think about a general topic in economics that you find fascinating, such as "globalization," "inflation," or "unemployment."
2. Conduct preliminary research: Look for current trends, problems, or debates related to your topic. For instance, under globalization, you could explore how it affects local economies.
3. Identify a gap: Find an aspect that hasn't been extensively researched, like "The impact of globalization on small businesses in the UK."
4. Refine further: Make it even more specific, e.g., "How has the rise of e-commerce influenced small retail businesses in urban UK areas since 2020?"

This process will give you a clear, manageable question that guides your research.

Planning Your Research Project

Now that you have your question, it’s time to plan your research project. This involves setting aims, identifying sources, structuring your work, and creating a timeline.

Aims

What do you want to achieve with your research? Write down your primary aim and any secondary objectives.

Sources

Identify different types of sources you need:

• Academic Journals: Peer-reviewed articles provide credible information.
• Books: These can give you detailed insights into your topic.
• Statistical Data: Look for databases like the Office for National Statistics (ONS) or Eurostat.

Structure

Create an outline of your research project. A typical structure might include:

1. Introduction: Present your research question and its significance.
2. Literature Review: Summarize existing research on your topic.
3. Methodology: Explain how you gathered and analyzed your data.
4. Findings: Present your discoveries, using graphs or tables where applicable.
5. Conclusion: Reflect on your findings and suggest possible areas for future research.

Realistic Timeline

Set deadlines for each phase of your project. For example:

• Week 1-2: Choose question and conduct preliminary research
• Week 3-4: Gather and evaluate sources
• Week 5-6: Draft your writing
• Week 7: Redraft and edit
• Week 8: Prepare presentation

Creating a timeline keeps you on track and helps manage your time effectively!

Searching for and Evaluating Sources

Once you know what you need, it’s crucial to search for sources effectively and evaluate their credibility. Here are steps to follow:

Searching for Sources

• Use Databases: Access databases like JSTOR, Google Scholar, or your university’s library portal.
• Keywords: Use specific keywords related to your research question. For example, if your question is about e-commerce and small businesses, try searching for terms like "impact of e-commerce on retail," "small business challenges," etc.

Evaluating Sources

When you find sources, check for:

• Authority: Who wrote the article? Are they a credible expert in the field?
• Relevance: Does the source address your research question or provide useful context?
• Currency: Is the information up-to-date?
• Bias: Does the article present information objectively or does it appear biased?

Ensuring that your sources meet these criteria helps maintain the integrity of your project.

Drafting, Redrafting, and Editing Your Academic Writing

With your research underway, it’s time to bring your findings together in writing. Academic writing requires clarity and structure.

Drafting

1. Start writing your first draft: Don’t worry about perfection—just get your ideas down.
2. Follow your outline: Stick to the structure you created to keep your writing organized.
3. Cite your sources: Ensure to add in-text citations according to the required referencing style (e.g., APA, MLA) as you write.

Redrafting

Once your first draft is complete, leave it for a day or two. Then return to it with fresh eyes and:

• Check for coherence and flow of ideas.
• Ensure your arguments are supported with evidence.
• Revise any sections that need clarity or needed additional information.

Editing

The final step before submission is editing. Look for:

• Spelling and grammatical errors.
• Incorrect citations or a missing bibliography.
• Overall structure and clarity.

Presenting Findings and Reflecting on the Research Process

After completing your research and writing, it's essential to present your findings clearly and reflect on your research process.

Presenting Findings

• Create a Presentation: Use tools like PowerPoint or Google Slides to summarize key points of your research.
• Practice Delivery: Practice presenting to friends or family to gain confidence. Focus on clear articulation and pacing.

Reflection

Spend time thinking about what went well in your research and writing process and what you could improve next time. Consider:

• What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
• What resources did you find most helpful?
• How has your understanding of the topic deepened?

Reflecting will not only help you in your next project but is also a valuable skill in continuous learning.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we explored the essentials of conducting an independent research project in economics. You learned how to choose a research question, plan your project, search for reliable sources, draft your writing, and present your findings. Each step is significant in laying a solid foundation for your future academic work. With practice, you’ll become proficient in managing research projects and developing strong academic writing skills!

Study Notes

• Choose a specific research question based on your interests.
• Create an outline and realistic timeline for your research project.
• Use credible academic sources and evaluate them critically.
• Draft, redraft, and edit your writing to ensure clarity and structure.
• Practice presenting your findings and reflect on your research process for continuous improvement.