Master
2019/2020
Research Seminar
Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'
Type:
Compulsory course (Economics: Research Programme)
Area of studies:
Economics
Delivered by:
Department of Theoretical Economics
Where:
Faculty of Economic Sciences
When:
2 year, 1-3 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Master’s programme:
Academic Economics
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
8
Contact hours:
100
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The course targets 2nd year MA students (research track) who already know the key principles of economic thinking, are familiar with the core advanced disciplines (Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Econometrics) and have the skills to solve theoretical models and process data. The course is in a form of weekly seminars (160 minutes each). The main activities include: (1) lectures, (2) discussions, (3) students’ presentations and (4) written assignments. The discipline is instructed in English.
Learning Objectives
- Learn how research papers are written
- Train to read manuscripts critically and efficiently, summarize and review them
- Study how to understand a new field, in the absence of a textbook
- Know how to judge the value of different contributions and identify promising research directions
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Learn how to evaluate and critically assess research papers
- Understand what shapes good and publishable projects
- Make progress with ongoing research projects
Course Contents
- How to Formulate a Research Question
- Economic Journals
- Where to Get Economic Data
- How to Structure a Research Paper
- How to Write a Referee Report
- How to Write a Research Proposal
- Presenting a Pre-Selected Paper and Preparing a Referee Report on It
- Preparing a Research Proposal
- Discussion
Assessment Elements
- Presenting a pre-selected paper
- Preparing a discussion
- Preparing a research progress report
- Preparing a referee report on a pre-selected paper
- Presenting the text of a masters thesis and defending it
- In-class activity and attendance
Interim Assessment
- Interim assessment (3 module)The Modules 1–2 grade includes: G(1–2) = 0.1*G(preparing a research proposal) + 0.5*G(presenting five pre-selected papers) + 0.3*G(preparing a research progress report) + 0.1*G(discussion); The Module 3 grade includes: G(3) = 0.15*G(presenting a pre-selected paper) + 0.15*G(writing a referee report on a pre-selected paper) + 0.3*G(preparing the text of a masters thesis and defending it) + 0.2*G(discussion) + 0.1*G(attendance) + 0.1*G(in-class activity); The final grade is computed as (2/3*G(1–2) + 1/3*G(3)); All assignments are graded on the 10-point scale; The results are rounded in accordance with standard arithmetic rules.
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Academic writing for graduate students : essential tasks and skills, Swales, J. M., 2012
- Mostly harmless econometrics : an empiricist's companion, Angrist, J. D., 2009
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- A guide for the young economist : writing and speaking effectively about economics, Thomson, W., 2001