ECON7950 Research Methods in Economics

Written Research Proposal Template

Please use this template to complete your Assessment 2 – Written Research Proposal.

Part A: The “what” of research

A1: State your research question. (1 sentence, 25 words max)

A2: Briefly explain the aims associated with your research question. (50 words)

Record your word count for A2:

A3: Describe the gap in the literature your research seeks to address: (100 words)

Record your word count for A3:

A4: Why do we want to find out the answer to this question? (100 words)

Record your word count for A4:

A5: List three (3) to six (6) keywords for your proposed research. (List only, separate keywords by a semi-colon.)

A6: List one (1) to three (3) fields in economics to which your question related. (E.g., environmental economics, monetary economics, time-series econometrics, etc. List only, no explanations required.)

i)

ii)

iii)

A7: List one (1) course in your program (e.g., MEcon, MIEF) that covers the field(s) you have identified above.

If you have a major, use the program list for your major. You can list a general elective if you wish. However, you cannot list ECON7950. Specify the semester and year when you took/are taking the course if you have taken it.

Program

Course code and title

Semester/Year leave blank if not taken (yet)

List the topics covered in the course that are relevant to your research question (list only, no explanation required)

If your research question and field is not covered in any course in your program, provide a publicly accessible link to a course syllabus/outline/profile of a course in a postgraduate program in economics (at any university in the world) that covers your research question and field: (leave blank if you have already identified a course in your program)

A8: Classify your research question using the alphabet + 2-digit JEL classification codes. Write down the code along with the JEL descriptor (the text for that code). Add or delete rows if needed.

Alphabet + 2-digit JEL code

JEL descriptor

i)

ii)

iii)

Part B: The “how” of research

B1: What is/are your main dependent (outcome/explained) variable(s)? (list only)

B2: What is/are your main independent (explanatory) variable(s)? (list only)

B3: What kind of data does the bibliography item use? (Check all that apply)

Primary/Experimental

Simulated data

Secondary/Observational

Theory/No data

B4: How would you obtain your data/theory?

If you have checked Primary data above, outline your data collection design.

If you have checked Secondary data above, name your data source(s) and explain how you can obtain access.

If you have checked Simulated data above, outline what and how you will simulate.

If you are proposing a theory research, outline the theoretical model you intend to use or build.

(100 words for each type of data checked in B3)

Record your word count for B4:

B5: How would you intend to demonstrate the relationship between the independent and dependent variable(s)? (Check all that apply)

Descriptives/Anecdotes

Theoretical derivations

Correlation established statistically

Causality identified with randomised controlled trials

Causality identified with natural experiments

Prediction generated by structural models or calibrations

Prediction generated by simulations

Conclusion from meta-analysis

Others (please specified):

B6: Briefly explain your choice in B5, outlining the crucial design, tool(s) or step(s) necessary for a successful implementation of your answer to B5. (150 words)

Record your word count for B6:

B7: List any resources (other than your time) or clearances necessary to conduct the proposed research. (List only, no explanation)

Part C: The “why” of research

C1: Suppose your research project yields the result(s) you are expecting. What would we have learnt from it? (50 words)

Record your word count for C1:

C2: If the research project does not yield the result(s) you are expecting. What would we have learnt from it? (50 words)

Record your word count for C2:

C3: Who might be interested in the potential knowledge you described C1 and C2? Explain why. (50 words)

Record your word count for C3:

References

(Please cite any resources that you have consulted to complete this assessment. These may include items in the literature, online resources, or artificial intelligence. Use APA 7th style.)

Please submit your completed written research proposal electronically to Turnitin through the link on the course Blackboard site before Monday, 28th April 2025 1:00pm Brisbane time (GMT+10).