RESEARCH METHODS IN ECONOMICS

(KTE02009)

HO NGOC NINH, PHD.

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND INVESTMENT

FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, VNUA

FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT - VNUA

Lecturer information:

Dr. Ho Ngoc Ninh

Dept. of Planning and Investment

Faculty of Economics and Rural Development

Vietnam National University of Agriculture

Email: hongocninh@gmail.com

Website: https://hongocninh.weebly.com

Chapter 2

RESEARCH DESIGN

Research process

Six steps in the research process:

1. Develop an effective research question

2. Survey the literature

3. Conceptualize the problem

4. Test the hypothesis

5. Analyze and interpret the results

6. Communicate the findings

Steps of research process

Step 1 Choosing research topic

Step 2 Identifying theoretical points

Step 3 Proving scientific points/views

Step 4 Presenting and disseminating outputs

6Vũ Cao Đàm, 2005

Research process in the field of Economics and Management

OBSERVATION

Identifying the

broad field of

research

DETERMINING

THE PROBLEM

Describing

research problem

COLLECTION OF

INITIAL

INFORMATION

Interview & Literature Review

THEORETICAL

Framework

Indicators, variables

CREATTION OF HYPOTHESIS

DATA COLLECTION,

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Are research questions answered?

RESEARCH DESIGN

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Research is

the "spiral

development"

Important questions on research process

During research process, some questions must be reflected(not research question):

◦ Who: Who is researcher? Who is involved in the research? Who get benefits from research?, ...

◦ What, which? What should be cared from research? Which theory? ..

◦ Where? Where is research location?

◦ When? When is time to conduct research? ( for data collection and time of doing research)

◦ Why? Why do this research? Why choose that location?

◦ How? How to do this research? – Methodology

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Structure of Research

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Overview, broad questions

and large field of research

Research title

Objective, Hypotheses,research question,

Approaches and Methods

Analysis

Results and Discussion

Giong back to research questions

– Generalize outcome

Steps of research process

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1. Identifying research problem

2. Choosing research title/topic

3. Problem statement, questions,

Objectives, approaches, hypotheses

4. Creating plan and contents of research

5. Collecting data and information

6. Analysis of data, results and discussion

7. Explain and disseminate results

Planning

stage

Imple-

mentation

Stage

RESEARCH PLANNING STAGE

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Identify

research field

and research

problems

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Identify research field

❖ The research field is usually wide and broad, with manyissues/problems, but a research topic should address only one ortwo issues.

❖ Research takes good results if you have interest in these research fields

❖ Identify the field or research idea

➢Based on the ability of researcher (strengths, preferences, etc.)

➢Based on the request of the funding agency or your boss

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Where does the research idea (research field) come from?

Actual problems and needs

Previous research

Life demands

Theory

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Research problemScientific Problem = Research Problem

There are always two classes of Scientific Problem:

◦ Problem (question) about the nature of things needs to be addressed

◦ Problem related to the methods used to prove the nature of things

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What is research problem

A research problem is a statement about an area of

concern, a condition to be improved, a difficulty to be

eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly

literature, in theory, or in practice that points to the need

for meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation.

How to develop a Research problem

➢ Identify disagreements in debate

➢ Identify bottlenecks in actual operations/job

➢ Thinking back to common sense

➢ Listening to uninformed people

➢ Questions come up suddenly

➢ Analysis of the logical structure of scientific research

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How to develop a research problem

(i) statement of the problem in a general way;

(ii) understanding the nature of the problem;

(iii) surveying the available literature;

(iv) developing the ideas through discussions; and

(v) rephrasing the research problem into a working proposition.

(Read more in the book)

How to describe research problem

❖ Short and clear

❖ “Hot issues”, cutting-age issues

❖ Significant contribution to the fact

❖ Significant contribution to overall research/knowledge

❖ Addition to the gap of previous research

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Identify

research title

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Principles to determine a research topics

➢ Short and clear

➢ Using scientific terms/concept

➢ Simple, easy to understand,

➢ Reflect the content and research issues

➢ Attractive (on real life)

➢ Valuable/significant contribution to knowledge

➢ Research title should have key words (Theory and application)

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Example: Key wordsRisk management in aquaculture of farmer households in An Thanh

commune, Tu Ky district, Hai Duong province

Risk management in aquaculture in An Thanh commune, Tu Ky

district, Hai Duong province

Solutions for developing aquaculture in My Trung commune, My

Loc district, Nam Dinh province

Developing aquaculture in My Trung commune, My Loc district, Nam

Dinh province

Solutions for attracting investment of enterprises in agriculture sector in

X commune, Y district, Z province

Evaluation of the economic efficiency of peanut production of farmer

households in commune X, district Y, province Z

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Notes for undergraduate thesis❖ The title of the thesis must be associated with the

specialization (major field).

❖ The thesis must ensure that the researcher is capable of completing it, but it must also be new;

❖ Less risky;

❖ Consistent with the allowable resources (mainly on technical);

❖ Accessible to data /information (it could be collected)

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How to develop research title?

❖ What are your strengths, abilities and hobbies?

❖ Reading previous research

❖ Discuss with your colleagues, friends, advisor

❖ Finding documents/Literature review;

❖ Record ideas (from documents);

❖ Developing your ideas from previous researches (assuming you are author) - Develop problem trees;

❖ Developing your ideas (Brainstorming).

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Research

Objectives

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Research objectivesObjective

◦ The nature of things need to be clarified

◦ Answer question “ What will you do“

◦ The objectives must be specific, clear, and clear about what the research will do?

Purposes

Answer the question: For what?

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NotesS.M.A.R.T Standard is applied in the development of project objectives (including research projects);

Research apply just some parts of S.M.A.R.T = Specific

Measurable

Attainable/available

Realistic

Timely

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ObjectiveTheoretical objectives??

Objectives on evaluating the current situations??

Objective on Solutions/policy recommendation??

???

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Example: A thesis

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• Thesis title: “Risk management in aquaculture of farmer households in An Thanh commune, Tu Ky district, Hai Duong province”

Writing research objectives (general and specific objectives)

for this thesis

To assess the current situation of

risk management in aquaculture

of farmer households in An Thanh

commune, Tu Ky district, and

propose some solutions to reduce

risks in aquaculture of farmer

households in the study area in

the future

General objective Specific objectives

To systematize theoretical and practical basis for risk management in aquaculture

To assess the current situation of risk management in aquaculture

of farmer households in An Thanh commune, Tu Ky district, Hai

Duong province.

To analyze factors affecting the risk management in aquaculture of

farmer households in An Thanh commune.

To recommend policy measures to improve the risk management

capacity of farmer households in the study area.

Objective

Assignment

Write general and specific research objectives for 2 topics:

Solutions for aquaculture development in My Trung commune, My Loc district, Nam Dinhprovince

Developing aquaculture in My Trung commune, My Loc district, Nam Dinh province

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Research question??

1. Research questions are a way for researchers, could "approach“ to specific topics from the perspective of the researcher.

2. A research question is the fundamental core of a research project, study, or review of literature. It focuses the study, determines the methodology, and guides all stages of inquiry, analysis, and reporting.

3. The research question should be a clear, focused question that summarizes the issue that the researcher will investigate.

Example for research questionThesis title: “Risk management in aquaculture of farmer households in An Thanh commune, Tu Ky district, Hai Duong province”

Research questions:

- What types of risks in aquaculture in An Thanh commune, Tu Ky district? How often does the risks happen? and how does it affect to the aquaculture production of farmer households?

- What are the risk management strategies in aquaculture of farm households in An Thanh commune, Tu Ky district?

- Which are the factors affecting the risk management in aquaculture of farmer households in An Thanh commune, Tu Ky district?

- What are the solutions to help households enhance the risk management capacity in aquaculture?

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Research scope and objects

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Types of Research scopeTime

◦ Period of data: The duration of the event (enough to know the rule)

◦ Time to conduct research

Place: Where the research conducted?

Research content (due to limited expertise and funds)

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Example of research scopeThesis title: “Risk management in aquaculture of farmer households in An Thanh commune, Tu Ky district, Hai Duong province”

Geographic scope: An Thanh commune, Tu Ky district, Hai Duong province

Timing scope: Secondary data for the study is collected from period of 2016-2018, surveyed data is collected in 2019.

Time of doing research: 12/2018 -5/2019

Content Scope: The research focused on assessing the status of disease and market risk in aquaculture of farm households, analyzing the factors influencing, and proposing solutions to enhancing the risks management in aquaculture of farm households in An Thanh commune.

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Research object

The nature of things or phenomena should be considered and clarified in the study.

Example: thesis title is "Risk management for aquaculture of farmer households in An Thanh commune, Tu Ky district, Hai Duong province“

Research object: Theoretical and practical issues in aquaculture risk management.

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Survey/Investigated object

Example: thesis title is "Risk management for aquaculture of farmer households in An Thanh commune, Tu Ky district, Hai Duong province“

Survey object: farmer households, extension workers, local government officials.

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Exercise

Identifying research objects and scope for 2 topics:

Solutions for aquaculture development in My Trung commune, My Loc district, Nam Dinhprovince

Developing aquaculture in My Trungcommune, My Loc district, Nam Dinhprovince

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Developing outline for undergraduate thesis

Look at the word file from the website: Guideline for developing thesis outline

Reading ExerciseAll students have to read chapter 2 and chapter 3 of the reference:

Kothari, C.R. (2004). Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Age International (P) Ltd., Publishers.

https://hongocninh.weebly.com/references.html

All students have to watch movies 1.4-1.8 of the reference “Research Methods For Business Students” from youtube.com:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiiC92ynGfM&list=PLZDZwPWTxRmFHK1ak8xK1dRowlv1pm3tS

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