Research Report (Finance)

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements for this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The report not exceeding 10 000 words is to take the form of a research paper or a research report. The topic should be in a finance related area and must be approved by the Academic Coordinator.

The Research Report component of the Master of Commerce (by Coursework) degree is explicitly labelled a Research Report rather than a thesis to reflect (a) the more modest scope of the project to be undertaken (relative to a thesis based degree) and (b) the more limited extent of advice which can be expected by the student. The Research Report is intended to be an independent piece of research conducted by the student, with some degree of aid and advice from staff. Students may consult with the Research Report subject coordinator for general advice and the Department may assign a staff advisor to assist the student with formulation of a research topic, to discuss progress, and to comment on a draft (or drafts) of the Research Report. Any advisor appointed is not to be considered as a formal supervisor.

The title of the Research Report and a proposed outline should normally be submitted for approval in late May (for students beginning studies in March) and in late October (for students beginning studies in July). Students will be advised of the precise date by the coordinator of the Master of Commerce program. For students commencing the subject in Semester 1 the report must be submitted in late December. Students commencing the subject in Semester 2 must submit their report in late July of the following year. Extensions are granted at the discretion of students' research report supervisor. To be eligible for an extension, students must submit a substantive first draft to their supervisor approximately six weeks before the final due date of the report. The exact due date of the report will be provided upon enrolment.

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• Critically comment on the results of the applied research in finance;
• Apply the necessary analytical skills and techniques to critically assess important issues in finance;
• Develop a research question necessary to test a financial theory or address a financial issues;
• Determine an appropriate methodology to address the research question;
• Determine the necessary data to conduct financial research;
• Determine the feasibility of a research project;
• Conduct the research project using information effectively and applying qualitative and quantitative rigor; and
• Communicate the results of the research project in a scholarly fashion.

The research report (not exceeding 10,000 words) is assessed by at least two examiners and is awarded a mark out of 100.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On successful completion of this subject, students should have improved the following generic skills:

• Oral communication;
• Written communication;
• Problem solving;
• Statistical reasoning;
• Application of theory to practice;
• Interpretation and analysis;
• Critical thinking;
• Synthesis of data and other information;
• Evaluation of data and other information;
• Using computer software;
• Accessing data and other information from a range of sources.