Qualitative Methods In Economics

223 Pages·2017·9.624 MB·English

by  Mirjana Radović-Marković, Beatrice Avolio Alecchi

Qualitative Methods in Economics

Despite numerous books on research methodology, many have failed to present a
complete, hands-on, practical book to lead college classes or individuals through
the research process. We are seeing more and more scientific papers from all
research fields that fail to meet the basic criteria in terms of research methods, as
well as the structure, writing style and presentation of results. This book aims to
address this gap in the market by providing an authoritative, easy to follow guide
to research methods and how to apply them.
Qualitative Methods in Economics is focused not only on the research meth-
ods/techniques but also the methodology. The main objective of this book is to
discuss qualitative methods and their use in economics and social science research.
Chapters identify several of the research approaches commonly used in social
studies, from the importance of the role of science through to the techniques of
data collection. Using an example research paper to examine the methods used to
present the research, the second half of this book breaks down how to present and
format your results successfully.
This book will be of use to students and researchers who want to improve their
existing research methods and read up on new and cutting edge methodological
developments, as well as those who want to study ways to improve the research
process.
Mirjana Radović-Marković is a full professor of Entrepreneurship at Akamai
University, Hilo, Hawaii.
Beatrice Avolio Alecchi is a full professor of Accounting at CENTRUM Católica
Graduate Business School, Lima, Peru.
Routledge Frontiers of Political Economy

For a full list of titles in this series please visit www.routledge.com/books/series/
SE0345
206 Representing Public Credit 212 Theoretical Foundations of
Credible commitment, fiction, and Macroeconomic Policy
the rise of the financial subject Growth, productivity and public
Natalie Roxburgh finance
Edited by Giovanni Di
207 The Rejuvenation of Political Bartolomeo and Enrico Saltari
Economy
Edited by Nobuharu Yokokawa, 213 Heterodox Islamic Economics
Kiichiro Yagi, Hiroyasu Uemura The emergence of an ethico-
and Richard Westra economic theory
Ishaq Bhatti and Masudul Alam
Choudhury
208 Macroeconomics After the
Financial Crisis
214 Intimate Economies of
A post-Keynesian perspective
Immigration Detention
Edited by Mogens Ove Madsen
Critical perspectives
and Finn Olesen
Edited by Deirdre Conlon and
Nancy Hiemstra
209 Structural Analysis and
the Process of Economic 215 Qualitative Methods in
Development Economics
Edited by Jonas Ljungberg Mirjana Radović-Marković and
Beatrice Avolio Alecchi
210 Economics and Power
A Marxist critique 216 Quantum Macroeconomics
Giulio Palermo The legacy of Bernard Schmitt
Edited by Jean-Luc Bailly,
211 Neoliberalism and the Moral Alvaro Cencini and Rossi
Economy of Fraud
Edited by David Whyte and Jörg 217 Creative Research in Economics
Wiegratz Arnold Wentzel
Qualitative Methods in
Economics

Mirjana Radović-Marković
and Beatrice Avolio Alecchi
First published 2017
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2017 Mirjana Radović-Marković and Beatrice Avolio Alecchi
The right of Mirjana Radović-Marković and Beatrice Avolio Alecchi to be
identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance
with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Names: Marković, Mirjana Radović, author. | Alecchi, Beatrice E. Avolio,
author.
Title: Qualitative methods in economics / Mirjana Radović-Marković and
Beatrice Avolio Alecchi.
Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2017.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016014938| ISBN 9781138692473 (hardback) |
ISBN 9781315532257 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Economics—Methodology. | Qualitative research.
Classification: LCC HB131 .M37 2017 | DDC 330.072/1—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016014938
ISBN: 978-1-138-69247-3 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-53225-7 (ebk)
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Book Now Ltd, London
To my family, my life’s great treasure. They are my source
of inspiration for everything I undertake in life.
Beatrice Avolio Alecchi
I would like to thank my family for their unconditional love
and support always.
Mirjana Radović-Marković

Contents

List of illustrations viii
About the authors x
Preface xiii
Acknowledgements xiv
PART I
Applying qualitative methods: principles and contributions 1
1 The role and importance of science 3
2 Research in the social sciences 12
3 Sources and types of scientific literature 16
4 Methodology and research methods 21
5 Design and implementation strategy of qualitative
methods in scientific research 33
6 Methods and techniques of data collection 43
PART II
Research paper organization and content 53
7 Structure of a research paper 55
8 The introduction 79
9 Literature review 98
10 The method 103
11 Presentation and discussion of the results 142
12 Conclusions and recommendations 190
Index 205
Illustrations

Figures
1.1 Science 9
1.2 Pseudoscience 9
4.1 Steps in the scientific method 23
4.2 Deduction and induction 26
4.3 The deductive method 26
5.1 Scientific method 39
6.1 The key steps in the survey process 47
6.2 Online survey – employee motivation 48
7.1 The structure of a research paper 55
7.2 Detailed structure of a research paper 56
7.3 Preliminary sections 57
7.4 Example of an executive summary 58
7.5 Example of a dedication 59
7.6 Example of an acronyms list 60
7.7 Table of Contents of a research paper: an example
based on case study methodology 61
7.8 Example of a list of tables in a research paper 61
7.9 Example of a list of figures in a research paper 62
7.10 Structure of the text in a research paper 63
7.11 Appendices in a research paper: a case study example 66
9.1 Literature map of main trends in studies on women entrepreneurs 101
10.1 Interview with experts form 122
10.2 Field notes form 123
10.3 Interview notes form 124
11.1 Emerging conceptual framework: why women
become entrepreneurs 182
Tables
5.1 Reasons for choosing the qualitative approach 36
11.1 Profile of the informants 144
Illustrations ix
11.2 Informants’ rate of response 146
11.3 Identified circumstances and motives in women entrepreneurs 150
11.4 Matrix of circumstances and motives that influenced the
decision of becoming entrepreneurs 156
11.5 Analysis of cases of women entrepreneurs 158
11.6 Women entrepreneurs reference models 166
11.7 People who support women entrepreneurs’ enterprises 168
11.8 Matrix of cases categorized by life cycle stages 181
Boxes
4.1 The benefits of mathematics in economic analysis 30
5.1 Usefulness of mixed methods 37
6.1 Pros and cons of techniques of verbal communication 45
6.2 Formulation of questions 49
6.3 An example of a closed question 50