Master
2024/2025
Methodological Research Seminar
Type:
Compulsory course (Economics and Economic Policy)
Area of studies:
Economics
Delivered by:
Department of Theoretical Economics
Where:
Faculty of Economic Sciences
When:
1 year, 2-4 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Open to:
students of one campus
Master’s programme:
Economics and Economic policy
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
6
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The course targets 1st year MA students (research track) who already know the key principles of economic thinking, are familiar with the core disciplines (Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Econometrics) and have the skills to solve theoretical models and process data. The course is in a form of weekly seminars (160 minutes each). The main activities include: (1) lectures, (2) discussions, (3) students’ presentations and (4) written assignments. The discipline is instructed in English.
Learning Objectives
- Learn how research papers are written
- Train to read manuscripts critically and efficiently, summarize and review them
- Study how to understand a new field, in the absence of a textbook
- Know how to judge the value of different contributions and identify promising research directions
Expected Learning Outcomes
- learn how to evaluate and critically assess research papers
- make progress with ongoing research projects
- understand what shapes good and publishable projects
Course Contents
- How to Formulate a Research Question
- Economic Journals
- Where to Get Economic Data
- How to Structure a Research Paper
- How to Write a Referee Report
- How to Write a Research Proposal
- Presenting a Pre-Selected Paper and Preparing a Referee Report on It
- Preparing a Research Proposal
- Discussion
Assessment Elements
- Presenting a research questionThis is a short presentation (5-10 minutes) of your preliminary research ideas followed by discussion.
- Discussion of presented research questions
- Presenting a pre-selected paper
- In-class activity and attendance
- Preparing a research proposal (text & presentation)
- Discussion of a research proposal
- Writing an abstract for a pre-selected paper
- Writing a referee report on a pre-selected paper
Interim Assessment
- 2024/2025 4th module0.1 * Discussion of a research proposal + 0.1 * Discussion of presented research questions + 0.05 * In-class activity and attendance + 0.3 * Preparing a research proposal (text & presentation) + 0.15 * Presenting a pre-selected paper + 0.15 * Presenting a research question + 0.1 * Writing a referee report on a pre-selected paper + 0.05 * Writing an abstract for a pre-selected paper
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Academic writing for graduate students : essential tasks and skills, Swales, J. M., 2012
- Mostly harmless econometrics : an empiricist's companion, Angrist, J. D., 2009
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- A guide for the young economist : writing and speaking effectively about economics, Thomson, W., 2001