Aidan Kane

Student research projects in economics

Document preparation & management

Two guides I first prepared some time ago which have proved reasonably useful:

• “The Format of a Student Research Project.” (pdf file) An overview of the elements of a research paper/project, from the title page to the appendices.

• “Handling Text and Type on a Computer.” (pdf file) These notes deal with a range of issues relating to the intelligent handling of text and type on computers. The general rules are to aim for readability and consistency in presentation, considerations which are informed by the art of
  typography.
  

Here’s a short presentation of mine on beginning a research project, with a few pointers and questions to get you started.

• “Beginning the Student Research Project in Economics: with the Masters Dissertation on a placement particularly in mind.” February 2008 version.
  
• “Beginning the Student Research Project in Economics.” Earlier version of this presentation, aimed mainly at undergraduate students doing their first research project in economics.
  

Other resources

• “Economical Writing” Deirdre N. McCloskey
  (pdf file) published in Economic Inquiry Vol. 24 No. 2 April 1985. A version of this is now published as a book:
  McCloskey’s book on Amazon

• Turabian (+ Booth and others) Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses and Dissertations on Amazon.
  
• The Elements of Style by Strunk and White on Amazon: a classic guide, though not really specific to economics/social science people.

Also, check out Edward Tufte’s site, and in particular, his books on the visual display of quantitative information:

• Edward Tufte