Students

MQBS7040 – Quantitative Research Methods

2023 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer
Grant Richardson
grant.richardson@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
MQBS8040
Unit description Unit description

This unit focuses on advanced statistical approaches used in Business and Economics and related disciplines. Topics include statistical modelling, time series analysis, structural VAR models, ARCH and GARCH models of asset return volatility, and panel data models. The unit will consider applications of these models to economic and financial data.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Analyse and explain a range of generalised regression methods and their uses.
  • ULO2: Employ macroeconometric methods to economic and financial data in a variety of contexts and communicate the results.
  • ULO3: Critically analyse the relevance and limitations of the econometric methods used.

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Quantitative Analysis Task 40% No Week 13
Class Test (2) 40% No Week 6 and Week 13
In Class Analysis & Discussion 20% No Ongoing

Quantitative Analysis Task

Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 40%

 

Students will be given a set of questions to analyse and interpret. Your analysis will number up to 2,000 words.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Employ macroeconometric methods to economic and financial data in a variety of contexts and communicate the results.
  • Critically analyse the relevance and limitations of the econometric methods used.

Class Test (2)

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Week 6 and Week 13
Weighting: 40%

 

Two within session tests of 60 minutes each, worth 20% each. These will occur in week 6 and week 13.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and explain a range of generalised regression methods and their uses.
  • Critically analyse the relevance and limitations of the econometric methods used.

In Class Analysis & Discussion

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%

 

Students will analyse and discuss quantitative processss and examples.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and explain a range of generalised regression methods and their uses.
  • Employ macroeconometric methods to economic and financial data in a variety of contexts and communicate the results.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Teaching Staff

Unit Convenor:

Professor Grant Richardson

E-mail: grant.richardson@mq.edu.au

Contacting Staff

Professor Richardson is available for consultation at a mutually convenient day and time. Please send an email to Professor Richardson to arrange the meeting.

Classes

There are 3 hours of contact for learning per week consisting of 1 x 3-hour seminar (lecture and tutorial).

The class is held each Wednesday 2-5 pm.  

Technology used and required

If you are enrolled in this unit, you will be listed in the MQBS7040 online unit (iLearn). Login at http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

The site will be used to post online lectures, lecture slides, handouts, and assignments.

The main software used in MQBS7040 is STATA which can be accessed through the Macquarie Business School.

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials

We will use research papers that link to contemporary empirical research methods in accounting and finance.

Students can also refer to the current edition of Wooldridge, Jeffrey., M.  2010. Econometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel Data (Second Edition). The MIT Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Other important reading includes Roberts, M.R., and Whited, T.M. 2013. Endogeneity in empirical corporate finance. In: Constantinides, G.M., Harris, M., and Stulz, R.M. (Eds.). Handbook of the Economics of Finance. North Holland, Oxford, UK (Vol. 2A, Corporate Finance, pp.493-572).

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Students are expected to complete all pre-lecture preparation tasks in advance of that particular lecture.

Please make notes summarizing the pre-lecture readings (if any). These notes do not need to be submitted for assessment; however, they will permit discussion of the material in class.

Students are expected to attend and participate in all classes.

Information

Details of the assessment tasks will be given in lectures and posted on iLearn.

You should check iLearn regularly.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2023.02 of the Handbook