Doing Economics: A Guide to Understanding and Carrying Out Economic Research Steven A. Groenlaw University of Mary Washington Houshtonttiftin Company Boston Naw Yr, ss = ss os ee eo ees ey & es es os"hs book delete to my frend Bob MeConnal fo showed me this was fable eject ant my wie Katy, who made Isp fr me to enol Senior Sponsoring Eaitor: Ann Wost Eedtorial Astodate: James Dimoc Senior Project Etor: Kerry Favoy Manetacturing Coordinator: Koren Banks “Markoting Manager: Mle Schenk Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Min Company Al ight reseed, No part thls war mey be reproduced or transmit nay foro by | ny means, secon o mechanical, incuding photocopying tr reertng, {rby any informstan storage or etrovl system without te prior ‘writen permission of Houghton Mfin Company unis such copying Is expresly permite by federal copyright lav. Address Inaues to. College Permissions, 222 Berkley Sweet, Boston, MA 02116-3764 Printed inthe USA. Lary of Congress Contr Number 2008110198 "Sen: 0-610:979805, 23456789-cuH—09 0207 06 SPPPREISISTITITITITITIITY wEITT. Contents Prtoce x coe Qo What le Research? 1 Research Is the Creston of Knowledge 2 How Are Arguments Evalue?) 3 Summary 5 ‘Suggestions fo Further Rescing 7 Everaser ‘Appendix 1A: he Range of Boome Metodoogiae 9 ane @ Overview of the Research Process in eonomics u Research in Sclence and Nonscince Disciplines 11 ‘Steps ofthe Rosoarch Process fr Economics. 12 ‘Stop : Developing an Execive Research Queston 14 ‘Step 2 Surveying tha Lieto 18 ‘Step 3 Anshaing he rotlam 20, Stop Tsing You Anales 21 Sup 6: narpreing he Route and Drawing Concusions 22 ‘tsp 6: Communicating tha Findings of te Roser Project 28 Summary 29 Suggestions er Farther Rescing 26 Erercbes 25 ‘Appendbe 24: Wing the Research Propose) 26 ‘Avpandbs 28: Questions Rvahnting&ReotechPropoeal 28Gontents Surveying the Litersture on a Topic in Zeonomics 20 Why Ie Litorature Survey Neoseeary? 29 ‘Whore to Seorch: Popular vereus Scholarly Literature 30, How to Soar: Developing an Effective Search Strategy. 32 Browsing 33 Keyword Serching 95 [Bese Search Statepy 22 Sample Koyword Search 38 bianing the Resources 40 Summary 42 Suggestone or Furr Reading 44 Everson 46 ‘Aspendc 28: Sabot References end Gaon Sas 46 sone @ Using Writing As a Tool for Economic Research 9 Writing to Loam 50 Composition A « Creative Process 50 ‘The Structure of an Argument. 51 ‘What Does I Mash to Sy That a Concksion Felons rom the ridenos? 63 amining an Argument 58 “Toe Types of Reasoning: Deductve, Inductive, ‘and Warrant Based 57 ‘What Makes fore Preuasive Argument? 59 ample Eslusting an Atsanent with Unrpresentnive Evidence 62 Sample Eelusing an rgaet Uh Brad ‘sample: Corsvucting a Simple Argument 63 Am imgocsot Cavest 84 summary 04 Suggstone er Farr Reecing 65 Barter 65 ‘Appendic 4A: Logical Palaces 67 SSPPIESITITITITITISITITIN ese. Doing Keonomios Writing As a Product of Economie Analysis n What le Economic Weting? 71 Writing Stope 72 ‘Writing the First Draft 72 Futures of Good Economie Wing 73 Ging the tens Down en Paper 78 (Ging Crest for itor! Property 77 Revising the Paper 79, Tethe Thesis Clay? 60 Inthe Paper Wall Organized? 60 ‘othe Fonts Scppriod with Evidonea?_ 62 Writing Sivie 62 Stive forCerty 63 Use he Active Voice 85, Deserve Acton wth a Vat 86 a Precio and Concise ‘Writing Mechanics 87 Use Compl Sentencse 8 Don't Let Seneneas un On 69 ‘summary $0 Sigostins or Furor Rescing $0 Bveraser 91 ann @ ee Critical Reading or How to Make Sense of Published Resoarch 9a Making Sense of Published Research 94 Understanding Frmat 96 Faluating the Argument Resding Cicely 95 ‘Questions to Guide Cita Reding 97 Evouning Pubished Ressroh 112 Mote Guests to Guide Cz Reading 113,