Measuring Demands for Environmental 
and 
Natural Resource Services 
 
 
COURSE Research Paper RESOURCES
 Syllabus  

Topics and readings  

Discussion problems  

Weekly essays 

Research paper 

Bulletin board 

MSU
Format
How to find the research literature
Submission schedule

Format: A research paper is a key course requirement.  The goal is to write a research paper suitable in content and form for submission to journals such as Land Economics, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, or Ecological Economics. A standard initial outline for such a paper is: 
  1. Title
  2. Abstract
  3. Introduction: Literature review and research 'gap' addressed
  4. Theory or model
  5. Empirical' Method
  6. Data
  7. Results
  8. Conclusions
  9. References
The standard length for such a paper would be 15 to 25 double-spaced page. Most authors find that the safest approach is to submit 20 to 25 and then cut the length in response to reviewers demands. 

Since you may not be able to complete the empirical analysis during the semester. In that case, replace the final empirical section with (a) a detailed description of the steps needs to complete the empirical analysis and (b) a description of anticipated results. Write the conclusions that will follow from the expected results. 

The paper will be developed in stages over the course of the semester. The schedule is attached on the next page. The key stages are: 

  1. Topic analysis (due 2/2/99, 5%). References to 3 journal articles and a half page description of how they suggest a particular researchable "gap" in the literature. The gap will be the focus of the research paper.
        2.  
  2. Draft literature review giving full statement of gap (due 3/2/99, 10%). A full analysis of the gap based on the professional literature. Probably involves at least 8 to 10 references, but you will have read and rejected many more. The topic will be presented and discussed in a class session.
        3.  
  3. Revised literature review with gap; preliminary theory and methods sections (10 percent, due 3/23/99). Final literature review and a initial description of theory and methods. Also identifies steps needed to complete paper.
        4.  
  4. Presentations of draft paper (due mid-April, 10 percent).
        5.  
  5. Final paper (due 4/30/99, 15 percent)

How to find the research literature. Atraditional way to find journal articles on a topic of interest is to use printed bibliographic references such as the Journal of Economic Literature. Another method is to browse key journals such as Land Economics or AJAE. However, the web and the MSU library give us much more speedy ways to find the literature. Try using: 
  1. Econolit on Firstsearch (http://www.lib.msu.edu/dbases/fs.html). Use the advanced search option. Allows searching by subject keyword, author keyword, and many other options.
            2.  
  2. Web of Science (http://www.webofscience.com). Very useful if you have an particular author or article of interest. You can find out what articles have cited the author or article of interest. Thus, you can trace the forward development of an idea or method through the literature and find out whose doing the current work.
            3.  
  3. Business and Economics resources (http://www.lib.msu.edu/dbases/busin.html). Includes links to census data, on-line journals with full text, and many other useful sources.
            4.  
  4. Lexis-Nexis (http://www.lib.msu.edu/dbases/ln.html). Allows searches through all sorts of non-technical publications, such as newspaper and trade publications. Great for finding links to current policy.
            5.  
  5. There are many other on-line resources such as those for AAEA, ARE, RFF, WRI, NOAA, and ERS. See "Research and Professional Links" on http://www.msu.edu/course/aec923.
Research Paper Schedule  

Spring, 1999
Class Session Product Due Feedback
January 14
January 19
January 21
January 26
January 28
February 2 Half page description of topic and three closely related empirical/econometric journal article references
February 4 Written comments from instructor
February 9
February 11 Presentation and discussion of 3 page draft literature review leading to a defined and narrow "gap" as the research topic
February 16 Presentation or private consultations with instructor. Written comments
February 18
February 23,25 Independent study (no class sessions
March 2
March 4
Spring Break
March 16 Revised lit review; preliminary theory and methods
March 18 Written comments
March 23
March 25
March 30
April 1 Draft research paper; Literature review, gap, theory, methods, proposed analysis, steps needed for completion
April 6 Written Comments
April 8
April 13
April 15 Presentations of final draft paper
April 20 Presentations of final draft paper
April 22 Presentations of final draft paper
April 27
April 29
May 5 Final paper due in instructor's office before 12 noon 
 
 
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