Introductions to Res earch Met

hods Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul Faculty of Economic

s Chulalongkorn Univ

ersity

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Purposes• to develop competence

and confidence in doingresearch

• to guide trainees to dev elop a research proposal

• to put pressure on stude nts to start their MSc the

sis/individual study papers

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Tasks of a Trainee•to take initiative and

present to the supervisor

•to respond to questions, challenges and requests

•to explore alternatives for working effectively

•to plan and execute the research project within the prescribed time period

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Tasks of a Supervisor•to direct/guide/push

•to refine/focus ideas•to challenge/correct •to encourage/value•to discuss/interact •to evaluate/judge

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Types of Research•Basic Research

–expand knowledge base

•Applied Research–to evaluate–to predict (forecast)–to make decision (design/fund/implement)

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Common Problems•selecting a research

topic•writing proposal•gathering information•analyzing literature•working with supervisor

•managing time•writing/presenting the report

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Doing Researc

h•Starting Research•Managing Research

•Reporting Research

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Starting Research•clarifying research problems

•formulating research questions

•establishing research objectives

•outlining research methods•conducting literature review•drafting a concept proposal

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Area of Interest

Research Topic

Research ObjectivesResearch Questions

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Area of InterestExamples–Competition in Carbon Trading

– Economics of Flood Control

–Compliance of Environmental Laws

Researchers’ Discipline a nd Background Knowledge

Position of Institution Funding agencies

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Research Topic (1)

• unsolved problems, e.g.,–Right on natural resources

–Energy-environment trade-offs

–Local Tax, Local Public Goods/Bads

–Participation of the priva te sector in Environment Management

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Research Topic (2)

• personal aspirations, e.g.,–Mass Transportation Financing

–Traffic Restriction Zone–Feed-in Tariff for Electricity from Renewable Energy

–Cost-effectiveness of Waste-To-Energy (WTE) in waste management

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Statement of ProblemDescription of research topic

•Background information

•Evidence/prior research

•high priority•magnitude of the impact

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Research Objectives

(1)What is to be achieved through research?

•provide basis for detailed design of the research

•allow evaluation of the research

•provide criteria to measure the outcomes

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Research Objectives

(2) General Objectives (only one or two)– to study the efficie ncy of carbon trading markets

– to study the role ofThailand in the market

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Research Objectives

(3) Specific Objectives– to derive the cost func tion of a Certified Emission Reductions (CERs)

– to determine the facto rs affecting demand fo r CERs– to compare unit cost ofThailand and other countries for CERs

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Research Questions

(1)Derived from the research objectives. They provide direction of the research methods, i.e.,

•hypothesis tests•data requirement/acquisition

•data analysis/ interpretation

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Research Questions

(2)Questions should be about

•Size or magnitude•Order•Probability (error and bias)

•Relationship or Causality

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Research Questions

(3)Examples• Is the CER market competitive?

• What are the unit costs ofCERs?

• What are the significant de terminants of the demand ? And how large are their effects?

• What are the significant de terminants of the supply?

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Research Questions

(4)Don’t ask•How will the unit cost be measured?

•Where will the data be collected?

•What are the cost components?

Why? The answers to these questions should be stated in the Methodology section. Without them, the research will not be approved.

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Literature Review

Conceptual FrameworkResearch MethodsConcept Proposal

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Literature Review (1)•Served as the source of

specific knowledge, research topic, conceptual framework and research methods.

•Only prior research works and advanced materials. Review of basic theories is pre-requisite of the research not a part of it.

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Literature Review (2) Sources of Literature

• theses, dissertation• journals, e.g., Journal of Environmental Economics and Management

• academic working papers , .e.g.,– National Bureau of Econom ic Research (http://www.nber.org)

–http://econpapers.repec.org

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Literature Review (3) Sources of Literature (c

ont’d)• Publications of Countr y Government and Inte rnational Organization• Advanced textbooks o r monographs• Encyclopedia, Handbooks

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Conceptual Framework

(1)•Integration of ideas from reviewed literature and personal initiatives

•Statement or more preferable schematic diagram showing relationship or interaction between variables, data analysis and interpretation not the sequences or schedule of research execution

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Supply functionDemand function

Equilbrium Q > Observed Q

yes

No Comp

etitive

Non-competitive

Conceptual Framework

(2)

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Research MethodsServed as Blueprint

•Timeframe/stages of execution

•Data Collection method and data sources (Measuring tools/Survey/ Interview)

•Analysis tools/Model/Graphs•Calculation/Estimation method•Hypothesis tests/Interpretation of results

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Conceptual Proposal (1)Served as the first written document to communicate the research idea with supervisor, colleagues and/or funding agencies before developing the detailed proposal

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Conceptual Proposal (2)Outline•Research Title•Statement of Problem

•Research Objectives•Research Questions•Conceptual Framework

Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

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Conceptual Proposal (3)Outline (cont’d)• Resource Required

– Preliminary Budget– Organization and Mem bers of Research Team

•References– list of reviewed literature