Readings: Required and Recommended

AEC 991F: Research Methodologies in Agricultural Economics

Dr. John Hoehn

Spring Semester, 1997

Table of Contents
  1. Description of Required and Review Readings
  2. Required Textbook
  3. Supplemental Textbook on Research Design
  4. Readings by Class Session and Topic
  5. Links to Research Methodologies Pages



Description of Readings

(Back to Contents)
The readings list outlines a set of required, recommended, and supplemental readings. Required readings are marked with R in front of the author's name. The required readings are drawn from the required textbooks, a course package of materials, and handouts in class. All handouts are required reading even if they are not noted in the reading list below. If you are absent from class, make sure that you check with the instructor or with class colleagues to find out if any handouts were distributed.
The required readings are essential for acquiring the basic vocabulary and concepts. The vocabulary and concepts will be unfamiliar to those who have no background in the history of economics or the philosophy of science. To assure yourself an adequate understanding of the course material, it is important to study the required readings before a class meeting and then read them again after the class session. As you study the readings, be prepared to work with the material to sort out different schools of thought and their fundamental assertions and beliefs.
The readings for review are intended to be read in order to understand the authors' primary points. You will not required to recall details these readings for review, just the major points and their logic. Readings for review are marked with a V in front of the author's name. The readings for review fill in the background and extend the discussion of issues raised in the required readings. These readings may also offer a slightly different perspective.
The supplemental readings are included for those who seek at some time want a deeper understanding of the issues in this course. The supplemental reading have no letter marker in front of the authors's name. There is a great deal of recent and very interesting work on economic methodology. You may explore this area in greater depth by beginning with the readings below, by following the citations within those readings, and by asking the instructor for suggestions on special topics.
If you have questions regarding the content the readings, please raise them in class. If your question is likely to require a long answer, write it down and give it to the instructor at the beginning of class. Your questions will be addressed, either in the lecture or in a supplemental discussion. The course is meant to meet your needs! Your questions and feedback are an essential part of the course.
A packet of readings is available for short term borrowing. This packet includes all the required and recommended readings except those that are in the required textbooks. The packet may be borrowed from the instructor's secretary, Ms. Nicole Alderman, in Ag. Hall Room 308 or 353-9848.

Required Textbook

(Back to Contents)
Johnson, Glenn L, Research Methodology for Economists: Philosophy and Practice, New York, New York: MacMillan Publishing Company, 1986.
 

Supplemental Textbook on Research Design

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Ethridge, Don, Research Methodology in Applied Economics: Organizing, Planning, and Conducting Economic Research, Ames: Iowa State University Press, 1995.





 

Readings by Class Session and Topic

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Week Topic
1.   Why Study Research Methodology in Agricultural and Resource Economics? (download lecture WP5.1/5.2, ASCII)
  R Johnson: "Preface"; Chapter 1, "Why Study Research Methodology in Economics?"
  V Just, Richard E., and Gordon C. Rausser, "The Governance Structure of Agricultural Science and Agricultural Economics: A Call to Arms," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 75:69-83, 1993
  V Johnson: Chapter 13, "Research Support and Accountability for Economic Research
2.   Planning Research: Research Proposals (download lecture WP5.1/5.2, ASCII)
  R Johnson: Chapter 2, "Three Kinds of Research"
     Research Products
  V Khanna, J., W.E. Huffman, and T. Sandler, "Agricultural Research Expenditure in the U.S.: A Public Goods Perspective," Review of Economics and Statistics, 76:267-277, 1994.
  V Annual Awards and Report of the AJAE Editors (1994-1994), American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 77(5):1407-1411.
    Planning research: the research proposal
  R Gay, L.R., and P.L. Diehl, "Selection and Definition of a Problem," Chapter 2, in: Research Methods for Business and Management, Ontario, Canada: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1992.
  R Gay, L.R., and P.L. Diehl, "Preparation and Evaluation of a Research Plan," Chapter 3, in: Research Methods for Business and Management, Ontario, Canada: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1992.
3.   Philosophical Constraints on Research (download lecture WP5.1/5.2, ASCII)
R Johnson: Chapter 3, "A Preliminary Overview of Philosophies Important in Economics".
      Guest Researcher: Dr. Thomas Reardon on Research on Development
4.   Philosophical Foundations: What Issues Are Researchable? (download lecture WP5.1/5.2, ASCII)
  R Johnson: Chapter 4, "Positivism".
Workshop: Investment 3
5.   Positivistic Boundaries of Science and Non-Science, Economics and Non-Economics (download lecture WP5.1/5.2, ASCII)
  R Johnson: Chapter 7, "Positivism in Economics"
  V Randall, Alan, "What Practicing Agricultural Economists Really Need to Know About Methodology," 75:48-59, 1993.
    Haussmann, Daniel, "Economic Methodology," Chapter 14 in: The Inexact and Separate Science of Economics, Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1992.
    Friedman, Milton, "The Methodology of Positive Economics," in: Essays in Positive Economics, Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 1953.
    Feyerabend, P., Against Method: An Outline of an Anarchistic Theory of Knowledge, Great Britain: Redwood Burn Limited Trowbridge and Esher, 1978.
    Kuhn, Thomas S., The Structure of Scientific Revolution, Chicago, Illinois: The University of Chicago Press, 1970.
    Lakatos, I., "Criticism and the Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes," in the Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, new series, 69, London: Harrison and Sons, 1969.
    Popper, K.R., The Logic of Scientific Discovery, London: Hutchinson and Company, 1959.
    Redman, Deborah A., "The Popperian School," in: Economics and the Philosophy of Science, New York: Oxford University Press, 1991, pps. 27-76.
6.   Empirical Economics: Hypothesis Testing, Replication, and Prediction (download lecture WP5.1/5.2, ASCII)
  R McCloskey, Deirdre, and Stephen Ziliak, "The Standard Error of Regressions," Journal of Economic Literature, 84, 1996, pps. 97-114.
  V Leamer, Edward E., "Let's Take the Con Out of Econometrics," American Economic Review, 73:31-43, 1983.
    Guest Researcher: Dr. Robert Myers on Financial Market Research (download notes WP5.1/5.2, ASCII)
  R To be assigned.
7.   Midterm
8.   Spring Break
9.   The Literary Structure of Economic Knowledge (download lecture WP5.1/5.2, ASCII)
  R McCloskey, Donald, "The Rhetoric of Economics," Journal of Economic Literature, 21:481-517, 1983.
    Bazerman, Charles, "Money Talks: The Rhetorical Project of the Wealth of Nations,"in: Henderson, Willie, Tony Dudley-Evans, and Roger Backhouse, Economics and Language, New York, New York: Routledge, 1993.
    McCloskey, Donald N., The Rhetoric of Economics, Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press, 1985.
    Maki, Uskali, "Two Philosophies of the Rhetoric of Economics," in: Henderson, Willie, Tony Dudley-Evans, and Roger Backhouse, Economics and Language, New York, New York: Routledge, 1993.
    Muth, John, "Rational Expectations and the Theory of Price Movements,"Econometrica, 29:315-35, 1961.
    Swales, John M., "The Paradox of Value: Six Treatments in Search of the Reader," in: Henderson, Willie, Tony Dudley-Evans, and Roger Backhouse, Economics and Language, New York, New York: Routledge, 1993.
    Guest Research: Dr. Scott Swinton (download notes WP5.1/5.2, ASCII)
  R To be assigned.
10.   Normativism, Value Knowledge, and Normative Knowledge in Economics (download lecture WP5.1/5.2, ASCII)
  R Johnson: Chapter 5, "Normativism"; Chapter 8, "Normativism in Economics"
  V Portney, Paul R., "The Contingent Valuation Debate: Why Economists Should Care," Journal of Economic Perspectives, 8(4):3-17, 1994.
    Diamond, Peter A., and Jerry A. Haussmann, "Contingent Valuation: Is Some Number Better than No Number?," The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 8(4):45-64, 1994.
    Etzioni, Amitai, "Substantive Differences: Moral Not Equal Pleasure," Chapter 3 in: The Moral Dimension: Toward a New Economics, New York, New York: The Free Press, 1988.
    Hanemann, W. Michael, "Valuing the Environment through Contingent Valuation," The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 8(4):19-43, 1994.
    McFadden, Daniel, "Contingent Valuation and Social Choice," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 76(4): 689-708, 1994.
Guest Lecturer: Dr. Ian Gray, Associate Vice Provost and Director, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station
11.   Pragmatism (download lecture WP5.1/5.2)
  R Johnson: Chapter 6, "Pragmatism"
  V Johnson: Chapter 9, "Pragmatism in Economics"
    Guest Researcher: Dr. Sandra Batie (download lecture WP5.1/5.2)
  R To be assigned.
12.   Economic Research in Support of Policy Judgements (download notes WP5.1/5.2, ASCII)
    Guest Lecturer: Dr. Stephen Harsh
  R To be assigned.
13.   Review and Evaluation of Research (download lecture WP5.1/5.2, ASCII)
  R Johnson: Chapter 15, "Review and Evaluation of Economic Research"
    Guest Researcher and Past-Editor of RAE: Dr. Lindon Robison
  R To be assigned.
  V Hammeresh, Daniel S., "The Young Economists Guide to Professional Etiquette," The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 6(1):169-179, 1992
    Figlio, David, "Trends in the Publication of Empirical Economics," The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 8(3):179-187, 1994.
    Hammeresh, Daniel S., "Facts and Myths about Referring," J. of Economic Perspectives, 8(1):153-163, 1994.
14.   Presentation of Graduate Research Proposals
15.   Presentation of Graduate Research Proposals
16.   Final Examination





 

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If you have comments or suggestions, email me at hoehn@pilot.msu.edu