Statement of purpose
Nagoya University · Graduate School of Economics
Explain your motivation through real experiences and connect your school choice to specific learning opportunities you can verify.
Read the Japanese manuscript first. Add details of your own experience and specific connections to the school and prospective supervisor, then follow the target program's submission format.
Paragraph 5 states learning needs and steps for identifying a prospective supervisor without claiming an unconfirmed supervisory relationship. Check recent faculty research and program rules before adding specific connections.
私は変数定義表の作成と、金額単位、連結・単体の範囲、年度、欠損値の確認を担当しました。この経験から、企業の投入資源と成果の関係に関心を持ちました。
資料整理では、同じ名称の研究開発人員でも、年度によって集計範囲が異なる場合があることに気づきました。そこで、比較できない理由を記録し、欠損値をゼロとみなさず、根拠のない補完をしないことを提案しました。これは実証研究ではなく授業内の資料整理ですが、数値の定義を確かめる重要性を考える契機となりました。
研究では、日本の上場製造業企業を対象に、研究開発資源と特許産出の相対効率を検討したいです。まず、公開資料を用いて企業間の比較が可能かを確認します。特許数は数量の代理指標であり、革新の価値全体を表すものではありません。また、効率スコアを資源投入の因果効果として解釈しないようにします。
方法としては、公開資料の定義や集計範囲と、企業と特許出願人との対応関係を確認したうえで、DEAの適用条件を検討します。データの比較可能性が確保できなければ、記述分析へ調整する方針です。手法の適用を先に決めるのではなく、資料から何を比較できるかを確かめてから、分析方法を判断したいです。
名古屋大学経済学研究科を志望し、経済学、統計、実証研究の基礎を体系的に補いたいです。入学後は先行研究を整理し、少数企業のデータ入手可能性を確認する予定です。指導候補は未定であり、今後、教員の近年の論文を読み、正式な募集要項で連絡方法を確認します。
将来は、再現可能なデータ整理と慎重な推論を通じて、企業の資源配分を理解したいです。資料の定義や欠損の扱いを曖昧にせず、比較できる範囲とできない範囲を区別する姿勢を大切にします。特許数や効率スコアの限界を踏まえ、数値だけから企業の革新の価値を断定しないようにしたいです。
Faculty need to understand why you chose this field and school. Use your experience to explain how your interests developed, and relate the school's resources to specific learning needs.
Section 2 describes noticing that identically named data in annual reports may cover different populations and proposing that the reasons for non-comparability be recorded. Section 4 builds on this with an approach of checking data comparability before selecting a method.
Specific judgments you made are more persuasive than a general interest in corporate innovation. Explain what you noticed and proposed, while keeping the experience within its actual scope: organizing materials for a class.
The study concerns listed Japanese manufacturing firms and the relative efficiency of R&D resources and patent output. Next, use the literature to justify the indicators and research value, while distinguishing relative efficiency from causal effects.
The wish to strengthen foundations in economics, statistics, and empirical research explains the need for further study. Check the target graduate school's specific educational offerings and identify which address your research preparation needs.
An interviewer may ask how a particular sentence relates to your application goals. Follow the progression from experience to question to study plan to check for abrupt jumps.
Relevant passage (paragraph 1: background):私は変数定義表の作成と、金額単位、連結・単体の範囲、年度、欠損値の確認を担当しました。
This section uses your responsibilities for checking variable definitions, units, and missing values to explain where your interest began. It establishes what you actually did before turning to future research.
Why it matters:Reviewers look for an identifiable personal contribution in your experience.
How to prepare:List the checks you personally handled in the order they appear in the manuscript.
Watch out:Do not claim the whole group's work as your own achievement.
Relevant passage (paragraph 2: developing your interest):同じ名称の研究開発人員でも、年度によって集計範囲が異なる場合があることに気づきました。
This section explains why you began to value data definitions: indicators with the same name may not be comparable. It also defines the nature of the experience so that your motivation does not rest on exaggerated research achievements.
Why it matters:Reviewers check whether you can explain the specific sources of non-comparability.
How to prepare:Recall how you noticed the differences in reporting scope.
Watch out:Do not generalize findings from some years to all firms.
Relevant passage (paragraph 3: research question):特許数は数量の代理指標であり、革新の価値全体を表すものではありません。
This section sets relative efficiency as the research objective and limits how patent counts and efficiency scores can be interpreted. It establishes a direction but does not yet provide a theoretical basis or a verified research gap.
Why it matters:Reviewers check whether you distinguish research concepts from proxy indicators.
How to prepare:List what patent counts can and cannot capture.
Watch out:Do not equate patent counts with the full value of innovation.
Relevant passage (paragraph 4: research method):方法としては、公開資料の定義や集計範囲と、企業と特許出願人との対応関係を確認したうえで、DEAの適用条件を検討します。
This section puts source definitions, reporting scope, and applicant matching before method selection. It also allows a shift to descriptive analysis, establishing practical limits for the plan.
Why it matters:Checking data comparability before assessing whether DEA applies prevents you from applying a method directly to data that may not be comparable.
How to prepare:List three checks: source definitions, reporting scope, and the match between firms and patent applicants. Explain how you would switch to descriptive analysis if comparability is insufficient.
Watch out:Do not present DEA as a settled method or describe checks you have not yet performed as completed.
Relevant passage (paragraph 5: university study plan):入学後は先行研究を整理し、少数企業のデータ入手可能性を確認する予定です。
This section connects foundational learning needs to reviewing prior studies and checking data availability for a small number of firms. As no prospective supervisor has been identified, it describes preparation, rather than an established supervisory relationship.
Why it matters:Reviewers check whether your planned actions after enrollment are specific and logically ordered.
How to prepare:List literature review and data checks as separate preparation tasks.
Watch out:Do not describe planned checks as completed.
Relevant passage (paragraph 6: future outlook):将来は、再現可能なデータ整理と慎重な推論を通じて、企業の資源配分を理解したいです。
This section grounds the future goal in understanding firms' resource allocation and retains the principles of reproducible data organization and careful inference. It makes no promises about policy effects or academic achievements unsupported by research.
Why it matters:Reviewers check whether your future goals align with your research training.
How to prepare:Explain what reproducible data organization and careful inference each mean.
Watch out:Do not inflate a goal of understanding resource allocation into a claim that you can already improve it.
Concrete facts support motivation better than adjectives. Prioritize your own responsibilities, supporting literature, and school information that affect credibility.
Relevant passage (paragraph 3: research question):まず、公開資料を用いて企業間の比較が可能かを確認します。
Review relevant theory, empirical studies, and institutional or case materials around the current question to clarify the conceptual basis of R&D resources and patent output. Assess research gaps and academic contributions only after checking the literature.
Why it matters:Reviewers ask what academic question the data checks serve.
How to prepare:Mark concepts and judgments that still lack support from the literature.
Watch out:Do not claim a gap in existing research without searching the literature.
Relevant passage (paragraph 4: research method):企業と特許出願人との対応関係を確認したうえで、DEAの適用条件を検討します。
Create a checklist of source definitions, reporting scope, and the match between firms and applicants, identifying what remains unverified. Explain method requirements based on actual checks; do not add other methods merely to make the plan look complete.
Why it matters:Reviewers check whether your method choice has verifiable prerequisites.
How to prepare:Mark what is known and what remains to be verified for each data check.
Watch out:Do not present unverified applicability conditions as settled conclusions.
Relevant passage (paragraph 5: university study plan):指導候補は未定であり、今後、教員の近年の論文を読み、
The manuscript states plans to read papers and check admissions information without claiming unconfirmed acceptance or contact. Add details after verification, reflecting your actual progress.
Why it matters:Reviewers distinguish actual preparation from intentions that have not yet materialized.
How to prepare:Record progress in reading papers and checking official admissions information.
Watch out:Do not present an undecided supervisory relationship as established.
Faculty may use your statement to ask why an experience led you to pursue further research and how you plan to study after enrollment. Understanding the statement means being able to explain your own judgments and concrete plans. Each question below is paired with the relevant passage and an answer approach for focused preparation.
Purpose of the question:To check how your research interest developed from personal experience.
Relevant passage (paragraph 2: developing your interest):数値の定義を確かめる重要性を考える契機となりました。
Answer approach: explain the difference you noticed, the response you proposed, and the question that emerged. Conclude by clarifying that this was organizing class materials, rather than completed empirical research.
How to prepare:Practice describing in your own words how the discovery led to your interest.
Watch out:Do not merely say you are interested while omitting the problem you actually found.
Purpose of the question:Reviewers check whether you avoid conclusions beyond the method's capabilities.
Relevant passage (paragraph 3: research question):また、効率スコアを資源投入の因果効果として解釈しないようにします。
Answer approach: first state that the study focuses on relative efficiency. Then explain that patent counts are a proxy and that efficiency scores do not represent causal effects.
How to prepare:Practice distinguishing relative efficiency, quantity indicators, and causal effects.
Watch out:Do not use efficiency scores as proof that increasing inputs necessarily increases output.
Purpose of the question:To check whether you have a reasonable adjustment plan if data conditions are inadequate.
Relevant passage (paragraph 4: research method):データの比較可能性が確保できなければ、記述分析へ調整する方針です。
Answer approach: state which data conditions need checking and explain why the method cannot be fixed in advance. If comparability is insufficient, shift to descriptive analysis as the manuscript proposes.
How to prepare:Explain the initial checks on definitions, reporting scope, and applicant matching, then describe when you would switch to descriptive analysis.
Watch out:Do not promise in advance to use DEA, or describe a change in method as an achieved research result.
Purpose of the question:To check how foundational learning and research preparation connect after enrollment.
Relevant passage (paragraph 5: university study plan):入学後は先行研究を整理し、少数企業のデータ入手可能性を確認する予定です。
Answer approach: identify the foundations you need, then describe reviewing prior studies and checking data for a small number of firms. When discussing a prospective supervisor, distinguish the current undecided status from your next verification steps.
How to prepare:Outline your learning needs and research preparation separately.
Watch out:Do not add unverified claims about courses or faculty acceptance.
Purpose of the question:To check whether future goals are consistent with your current research principles.
Relevant passage (paragraph 6: future outlook):比較できる範囲とできない範囲を区別する姿勢を大切にします。
Answer approach: start with data definitions and handling missing values. Explain why you distinguish what can and cannot be compared, then why quantity alone cannot establish the value of innovation.
How to prepare:Prepare to explain how these principles guide the whole process of organizing data.
Watch out:Do not replace your existing concrete goal with vague claims of social contribution.
Before submission, check personal facts, school information, and document requirements together. Do not describe unconfirmed supervisors or courses as settled arrangements.
Verify that the four-person class group, your role, data checks, and suggestions all match what happened. Do not present coursework as completed empirical research.
Check current admissions information for Nagoya University's Graduate School of Economics. Add specific connections after identifying a prospective supervisor.
Check whether the target program requires a statement of purpose, and verify the prompt, length, form, and submission language.
Distinguish completed data organization from plans after enrollment. Data availability and method applicability still need verification.
After checking supervisor and school information, read the Japanese manuscript and practice explaining it aloud. Copying and printing include only the Japanese main text. Check the exported document against the target program's format requirements.
