Work-Study Research Assistant Program

Faculty Name: Patricia Ritter

Faculty Department: Economics

General Research Focus: 

Forty percent of full-time students in UConn enrolls in fewer than 15 credits. They pay to take up to 18 credits but enroll in 12 to 14 credits. The focus of this project is to understand why. We will use the Human Capital Model as the theoretical framework and anonymous administrative data from the university to analyze the role of the price per credit for in-state versus out-of-state students, the role of the opportunity cost of taking an extra course per semester, the role of the interest rate in discounting the cost of a ninth semester, among others.

Brief Position Description:

The student will produce summary statistics, graphs, and simple linear regression analysis in Excel or Stata. In addition, the student will carry out a couple of focus groups and short surveys. Finally, the student will write a midterm and final report with the main conclusions of the analyzed data. Ideally, the student has taken Women and Minorities in the Labor Market or any other course that teaches the Becker’s Model of Human Capital Model. The student also needs to work well with Excel or Stata.

The student will learn to apply economic theory to a real-life problem. In addition, the student will practice analyzing and presenting data with Excel or Stata, as well as to write a policy report. Finally, the student will learn to design simple and short surveys. 

Job Description:

A Student Research Review Assistant - 205 will assist faculty in research effort by conducting review of literature and subject material specific to research topics. A student in this position may:

• Organize, tabulate and analyze data in Excel or Stata. 
• Carry out a couple of focus groups and short surveys.
• Write, proofread and edit reports. 
• Prepare bibliography.