Module Code and Title:       UGR302          Economics Research Project

Programme:                          BA in Development Economics

Credit Value:                         24

Module Tutor:                       Sanjeev Mehta, Sonam Yeshey, Sonal Mehta, Tshering Lhamo Dukpa

Module Coordinator:            Sanjeev Mehta

General objective: The module aims to enable students to engage in a focused and sustained piece of research within the field of enquiry of economics, and to enable students to apply the theoretical knowledge and skills developed in other modules to the research process, including ethical procedures (UGR201) and quantitative techniques (QME101, QME203 and QME304) for the production of a written project report.

Learning outcomes – On completion of this module, learners should be able to:

1. Plan and conduct a research project.
2. Critically evaluate current research within a specialist research area drawing on appropriate theoretical perspectives.
3. Identify and review relevant literature.
4. Develop focused research questions.
5. Select and use suitable methods and analyses to examine research questions appropriate to the research area.
6. Collect data using methods appropriate to the area of work.
7. Identify and evaluate ethical constraints and conduct research.
8. Effectively communicate and defend their research work.
9. Produce a complete undergraduate thesis.
10. Reflect on the research process to propose possible alternative approaches and future directions.
11. Meet deadlines and milestones for a complex long-term project.

Learning and Teaching Approach:

Role of Supervisors

The primary function of the supervisor is to provide overall and general guidance to help student to develop a logical and rational basis for research. Key functions expected of the supervisor:

1. Assist the student: to clarify the topic; to be clearly focused and not be over-ambitious; and to advise the student on the viability of ideas.
2. Direct the student to relevant areas of information, literature sources and specialised internal/external help.
3. Advise on appropriate methodologies/techniques.
4. Advise on referencing style and the problem of plagiarism.
5. Maintain regular supervisory contact with the student.
6. Regularly monitor the student's work. Supervisors should keep a written log of the opportunities for formal work offered to students and encourage students to keep a written record of all supervisory contact/support noting key points of discussion.
7. Assist the student in managing the timetable of the project.
8. Assist the student in identifying when problems are liable to be encountered and how they might be tackled.
9. Ensure the student is made aware of inadequate progress, standards of work below the expected level or any assessments which do not reach the required standard - consistently unsatisfactory progress should be made known to the student in writing.
10. Read and comment on drafts of the thesis and return such work with constructive criticism and in reasonable time.

Role of Students

The prime responsibility for the management of the project rests with the student who, must maintain dialogue with the supervisor. The responsibility for the work submitted is entirely that of the student. The student will:

1. Manage the relationship with his/her supervisor, keeping in regular contact with him/her as planned.
2. Discuss with the supervisor the type of guidance and feedbacks that he/she finds most helpful;
3. Agree a schedule of meetings with the supervisor for reports/briefing on progress, ensuring the agreed schedule is adhered to and any deadlines met.
4. Take the initiative in discussing any problems with the project work and/or its supervision so that these can be resolved as soon as possible.
5. Keep a diary of work conducted related to the project. This would include: notes on discussions/correspondence with supervisor(s) and any other internal/external specialists; literature read and comments; ideas/designs; results of tests/experiments; problems found and solutions; equipment details and settings; project costs; resources used; diagrams, plans, sketches, photographs; raw data; etc.
6. Submit the thesis report and/or other items in the specified format. 

Assessment Approach:

Students’ performance will be assessed by several elements of continual assessment throughout the 3rd year. The first element consists of a Log-book, as an examinable record of personal input to the project. Next, there will be two panel meetings at which student’s project will be discussed with a panel of staff members, the second of which will include a formal presentation of the research work by the student. Between these meetings and shortly before the winter vacation, students will be required to submit a progress report, together with log-book recording the activities, for assessment by the Module Coordinator and the supervisor. Finally students will submit two copies of the final project report, for which detailed instructions will be provided in the procedure issued at the start of the project cycle.

Semester V

A. Research Proposal: Proportion of final marks (15%)

Students must complete a research proposal that clearly addresses the linkage between research question and research methodology and ensures that ethical considerations are incorporated. Word limit: 3000 words.

1. 3%       Clear and focused research question
2. 3%       Sound theoretical framework
3. 2%       Ethical consideration
4. 3%       Appropriate Research method
5. 2%       Effective Sample plan
6. 2%       Work plan

B. Literature review: Proportion of final marks (10%)

Guide should check the notes of the students to ensure all the recommended literature is covered and important elements are noted down.

• 2%       Breadth of coverage
• 4%       Ability to analyse and synthesize major arguments in the reviewed literature
• 2%       References noted down in appropriate format

D. Adhering to time schedule: Proportion of final marks (3%)

Checking the progress of the work, whether it is consistent with the work plan. (Student should be regularly use a log book for maintaining records– supervisor will cross check with student’s log book).

• 2%       Timely submission of research proposal
• 1%       Timely review of literature

E. Meeting supervisor regularly for guidance: Proportion of final marks (2%)

• 1%       Providing updates coherently at regularly scheduled meetings
• 1%       Timely response to all the relevant academic communication 

Semester VI

A. Quality of data collected: Proportion of final marks (5%)

To ensure that data is adequate to answer the research question, data gap does not exist, quality of data is reliable and data is representative.

• 3%       Adequacy of data
• 2%       Reliability of data

B. Draft report: Proportion of final marks (15%)

Submission of comprehensive report (thesis) in the desired format.

• 1%       Timely submission
• 2%       Appropriateness of the structure of report
• 2%       Referencing
• 8%       Quality and clarity of discussion on finding
• 1%       Language
• 1%       Conclusion

C. Final report: Proportion of final marks (40%)

• 25%     Research question is answered effectively and scientifically
• 10%     Effective handling of the feedback on draft report
• 2%       Timely submission of the report
• 3%       Submission of all the necessary documents and equipment
  D. Presentation and defence of the findings: Proportion of final marks (10%)

Each student will make 15 minutes presentation to the four external examiners (not the research guide) on the report/ thesis and face Q&A session.

• 3%       Effective presentation
• 7%       Effective defence of the findings and over all work in Q&A session 

Pre-requisites: UGR201 Research Methodology, QME101 Mathematics for Economics, and QME304 Intermediate Econometrics

Subject Matter:

The research project will start in the fifth semester and will continue in the sixth semester.

For this module, every student is required to study a specific topic under the supervision of a member of the academic staff. This is laid down as a compulsory element of the degree programme. The work will be of an investigative nature and may have analytical, numerical, design and experimental elements involved in it. The initiative for carrying out all aspects of the work rests with each student. Individual students can carry out an investigation into a problem either chosen from a list of suitable problems proposed by the supervisor or of their own suggestion, in which case, it must be approved by the supervisor.

Projects will have to be taken up individually. A student project will lead to the production of a written report, referred to as a thesis. A project can be based on primary data or secondary data or both.

Students will be required to research on any relevant topic, with the support of their supervisor, in order to develop a research question and to design a study. Supervisor's support will continue through data collection, data analysis and the discussion of results. A series of teaching sessions covering ethics, methods, analyses and writing from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives will be provided in addition to supervisory support. Students are expected to use at least one major econometric tool to analyse the data 

Reading List: As per the requirements of individual projects.

Date: January 15, 2016