Research in Practices: Path and Key Recommendations

The starting point is the question, in any research process.

 Once you have the main question, the general steps to fallow:

1. Link it to the fundamental theory: thinking of the problem in that way, the variables and possible direction of the relationship(s) - hypotheses.
2. Go from the economic model to an econometric model.
3. Select the sample data and desirable method of statistical analysis.
4. Select the Statistical Software Package and parameter estimation.
5. Model diagnostics.
6. And then the empirical results and implications.

Design a Research Plan (see article); but always go to be some surprises in the research process. It will have to be flexible for changing. 

 

In the research does not focus only in one level, consider different levels of the challenges. 

 

General format and structure at the moment you start writing the Paper:

• Brief project summary or proposal
• The abstract:
• A concise statement of the problem
• Comments on the information available - key reference
• A description of the research:
• The Economic Model
• Estimation and inference methods - econometric
• Data source
• Empirical results, process and relevant information for replication
• Potential contribution of the Research

• Statement of the Problem -inspirational for readers-
• Review of the Literature -briefly summarize key and relevant-
• Method
• The Economic Model
• The Econometric Model
• The Data
• The Estimation and Inference
• The Empirical Results
• Conclusion
• Possible Extensions and Limitations of the Study
• Acknowledgments
• References

 

Principles and notions to excel in research

I will recommend to move away from doing research ON people and start doing research WITH people. This is what will get the opportunity to adopt the research for impact approach. This encourages us to engage and develop partnerships that will move us closer to archive the research goals. Because the engagement with stakeholder and strategic partnerships in ensuring research is relevant, useful and impactful.

In simple words: Make the stakeholder part of the process. 

 

Principles of stakeholder engagement

• Keep your ultimate objective in mind
• Select the right actors and make research interesting, relevant and usable
• Build appropriate relationships and trust
• Value stakeholder knowledge
• Make it easy for stakeholders to be part of the research process

 Identified how are your stakeholder and engage with their, this will take time but help to avoid some challenges. Key characteristics of a good stakeholder:

• Relevance
• Quallity
• Representativeness
• Legitimacy
• Impact

We will need to partnership with people with stronger skills. Think: what does we will need to archive the research objectives. This is parnership, and the main principles for parnership are:

• Share vision and values
• Complementary of purpose and value-added
• Autonomy and independence
• Transparency and mutual accountability
• Clarity on roles and responsabilities
• Commitment to joint learning 

 Convince the stakeholder is important.

  

 

Some participatory processes, to understand it better consult the reference link:

• Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (VRA): the methodology aims to develop a common understanding among a wide range of stakeholder.
• Transformative Scenario Planning (TSP): The aim is to assist participants to see the system, and their roles in it, from different angles.
• Net-Map: is a network mapping tool that allows people to visualise, understand, discuss, and improve situations where many different actors have power and influence.

 

 

References:

 

R. Carter Hill is the author of Principles of Econometrics, 4th Edition, published by Wiley