Re: st: Starting a research project [was: Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 05:09:10 -0500]

["Michael S. Hanson" <mshanson@mac.com>]

On Mar 17, 2007, at 5:14 AM, wct wrote:

> i'm going to try do some type of research paper of an economics issue.
> i'm going to find an issue and made a hypothesis, then look for data 
> to support my hypothesis, in a regresssion. can anyone tell me where i 
> can begain to look for economic research papers which can be used as 
> data to support my hypothesis. i'm new to this, this would be my first 
> time, trying to do any type of research.
	With all due respect, what you have described is really not how one 
goes about undertaking empirical research in economics (or, indeed, any 
discipline that utilizes statistical analysis).  As you provide no 
information about your background, I am going to presume that you have 
enough statistics and mathematics that you can read an advanced 
undergraduate-level econometrics textbook, and enough economics 
training that you can form sensible hypotheses to be examined, based 
(in part) on a literature review of relevant theoretical and applied 
work in your chosen field of economics.  EconLit, which should be 
available through the library or economics department at your current 
institution, is the best place to starting finding such research.  As 
for data, you might start with the AEA-sponsored "Resources for 
Economists," available on the web.  (Google it.)

	You also have not provided any information about the expectations of 
this assignment.  Is it a one-off brief piece at the end of the 
semester of an intro stats/metrics course, or is it something more 
substantial -- that is, will you be graded on simply applying some 
specific tools you learned in your course, or will you be expected to 
produce something that stands on its own as a complete and original 
piece of applied research?  In the latter case especially, I would 
strongly recommend that you read chapter 19 of Wooldridge's 
"Introductory Econometrics," entitled -- appropriately enough -- 
"Carrying Out an Empirical Project."

	(As an aside, I have one major qualm with Wooldridge's discussion of 
empirical research in economics in this chapter:  in my opinion, he 
inaccurately and unnecessarily characterizes macroeconomic research 
questions as inappropriate for student projects.  In my experience, 
these can actually be some of the most interesting and rewarding topics 
to be investigated -- particularly in the hands of good undergraduates 
-- but that is a discussion for another time....)

	I also would hope that at whatever institution you currently reside, 
you have resources available to support your efforts and answer your 
questions as they arise.  I would venture that it is at best 
unrealistic to expect regular support for such an undertaking from 
voluntary participants on Statalist.

	The other resource I would recommend for someone in your position is 
Kennedy's "A Guide to Econometrics."  Again, there is a whole chapter 
devoted to empirical research issues:  chapter 21, entitled, "Applied 
Econometrics."  Particularly worth attention are his "10 Commandments 
of Applied Econometrics."  The whole book is arguably a valuable guide 
for individuals whose econometrics training has emphasized theory and 
proofs over intuition and applications.  And it's available as a 
(relatively inexpensive) paperback.

	Hope this helps.

	Kennedy, Peter.  "A Guide to Econometrics," 5th edition.  Boston: MIT 
Press, 2003.  ISBN 0-262-61183-X

	Woodlridge, Jeffrey M.  "Introductory Econometrics: A Modern 
Approach," 3rd edition.  Thomson South-Western, 2006.  ISBN 
0-324-28978-2

                                        -- Mike

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