A Protocol or a Set of Standards to Guide Agricultural Economics Research

Abstract

This article examines some difficult decisions that agricultural economists must confront in doing research. Over many years, rules and standards have developed in agricultural economics that guide researchers, providing an underlying framework for research methods. This article deals with applying these seldom discussed guidelines to specific research situations confronted by agricultural economists. With this article, we hope to stimulate a dialogue among agricultural economists about the need for additional, appropriate methodological guidelines in agricultural economics research.

Keywords

• ethics
• impartiality
• methodology
• replication
• research standards
• scientific method