Term 1 Week 8

Learning objectives:

Learn about the importance of sampling
Learn different sampling strategies
Understand the strengths and weaknesses of sampling strategies
Learn how to operationalise economic development, and to critically assess its attributes

Homework week 8: Read the required literature (see below)
Required reading week 8:
- Brians, Craig L., Lars Wilnat, Jarol B. Manheim and Richard C. Rich. 2010. Empirical Political Analysis. Pearson. Chapter 7
- Bryman, A. (2008) Social Research Methods, 4th ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press. Chapter 8
- Frankfort-Nachmias, Chava (2008) Research methods in the social sciences, 7th edition, New York: Worth Publishers.

Homework week 8:
- Find at least 3 journal articles / books which use the concept you have chosen for the assessment. Compare how the authors operationalise your concept and critically assess the selection of attributes / variables. There will be short presentations in the seminar.
- Read the required literature below. Prepare answers to the following questions: How is economic development conceptualised. How difficult is it to conceptualise it? What are the strengths weaknesses of different conceptualisations? Then choose two attributes (for example health and education) and list how these can be measured. Again, critically assess strengths and weaknesses of these variables. There will be group work and presentations in the seminar.
Required reading week 8:
- Todaro M. and Stephen C. Smith. 2011. Economic Development. Addison Wesley. Sections 1.3. and 2.2.-2.4.
- Gerald M. Meier, James E. Rauch. 2005. Leading issues in economic development. New York ; Oxford : Oxford University Press. Chapter I.A. Also have a look at Section IV (Human Resources)

Weekly Reading