A Guide for Student-led Undergraduate Research in Empirical Micro-Economics

Abstract

This guide provides advice on doing a student-led undergraduate research project in empirical economics to both students and faculty members. For students, research projects are good preparation for graduate school or data-intensive jobs. For faculty, mentorship can be a fulfilling experience, and an undergraduate research project can lead to a publication. The guide follows the steps of an empirical economics research project, including preparation before the project, matching a student and professor, writing the paper, presenting, defending a thesis, the publication process, and finally how to reap the benefits of the work. The guide also includes specific advice for doing work with data typical of applied microeconomics. I would like to thank participants at the Conference on Teaching and Research in Economics Education and RobertGitter for comments on an earlier draft, as well as Jennifer Golden for copyediting help. I would also like to thank my research students, particularly Savannah Wilhelm, Lauren Cahalan, Allie Wesley, Ally Rakus, and Kierstin Ekstrom, as well as Erin Fletcher and Nzinga Broussard, who helped mentor them. I also thank two anonymous reviewers and the editor for very helpful comments. All errors remain my own.