EFN426 Applied Research in Finance
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | EFN426 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | EFN406 and EFN420 or BSN451 and BSN456 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,596 |
| International unit fee | $6,180 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | EFN426 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | EFN406 and EFN420 or BSN451 and BSN456 |
| Coordinator: | Annastiina Silvennoinen | silvennoinen@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This unit provides you with skills for approaching a research problem from an econometric approach. These skills are crucial in the use of a range of research methods and business applications. The knowledge and technical skills you gain in this unit will enable you to work effectively with a variety of data and business problems and will have further application in addressing problems they encounter in the subsequent units of this course.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Summarise and interpret the characteristics of data collected using a number of descriptive and graphical techniques. [KS 1.2]Relates to: PG Business Capabilities: KS (1.2)
- Identify research problems in which regression analysis is a suitable econometric tool and support your thinking with informed judgement and use of statistical techniques [KS 1.2, HO 2.2]
- Explain key properties of Ordinary Least Squares estimators and how these relate to regression methods [KS 1.1, KS 1.2]
- Apply estimation and inference techniques and form and justify conclusions for expert and non-expert audiences and use Stata software in the application of key statistical techniques practiced in this unit [KS 1.2, HO 2.2]
- Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration [TS 4.2]Relates to: PG Business Capabilities: TS (4.2)
Content
You will cover the theoretical and practical aspects of regression analysis including for example:
- Descriptive statistics
- Probability distributions
- Method of Ordinary Least Squares
- Estimation and Interpretation
- Hypothesis Testing
- Cross-sectional and time-series regression
- Model Assessment
- Use of Stata
You will apply these skills to real world practical problems in business disciplines.
QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)
The content and assessment in this unit are aligned to a selection of the following set of QUT Business Capabilities, also known as Assurance of Learning Goals (AoLs). Developing these capabilities will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT and equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your chosen career.
Knowledge & Technical Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
1.2 Apply technical, technological and technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HO)
2.1 Critically investigate real world business issues and problems drawing on analysis, evaluation and synthesis of discipline knowledge, including theory and practice.
2.2 Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic and research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.
Professional Communication (PC)
3.1 Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.
3.2 Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.
Teamwork & Self (TS)
4.1 Exercise self-reflection and accountability in applying knowledge and skills for own learning and effective practice.
4.2 Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across a range of complex activities and contexts.
Social, Ethical & Global Understanding (SE)
5.1 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in critically analysing and effectively responding to complex business issues.
5.2 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues and critically reflect on the responsibilities and impacts of organisations in national and international business contexts.
Learning Approaches
In this unit, you will learn by engaging in a theory-to-practice approach to support learning. Lectures will explore and discuss the theoretical foundation for the econometric tools used in the unit with reference to their value in support of research and business practice. Access to the required background knowledge in these areas will be provided in form of optional tutorials. Students will develop and practice the relevant skills in this unit through supervised computer laboratory sessions and will apply these skills to address a variety of real world problems drawn from business disciplines. In these laboratory sessions students will be working with software widely used in academia and in industry. The learning and teaching approaches and the assessment regime in this unit are designed so students can assess their progress in the unit, foster their skill development and broaden their skill application over time.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester, which may include:
- Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
- Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
- Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
- Indirect: to whole class
Assessment
Overview
General Assessment Information
The assessment in this unit aims to support your achievement of the unit learning outcomes and course assurance of learning goals. The assessment has been designed in order to allow you to:
- receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes (formative assessment);
- demonstrate your learning in order to achieve a final grade (summative assessment)
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Portfolio
You are given computer-based statistics tasks, technical analysis, and reporting sequenced over time, which are compiled into a portfolio, and coupled with self and/or peer reflections.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assessment item is based on teamwork and provides evidence of achievement of associated Unit Learning Outcomes and Course Learning Outcomes. Individual submissions will not be accepted for group components.
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), KS (1.2), HO (2.2), TS (4.2)
Assessment: Exam
Practical examination where you complete problem solving tasks.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.
This invigilated examination requires attendance on campus or at an assessment centre, regardless of your attendance mode for the unit.
This assessment item is Verified Identity Assessment. Requirements are provided on the Unit Canvas site.
Formative or Summative: Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), KS (1.2), HO (2.2)
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Additional resources will be provided on the unit Canvas site.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Prescribed Text - Hurn, Martin, Phillips, Yu: Financial econometric modeling, Oxford University Press, 2021.
Software: Stata (available in selected QUT labs, or via VPN connection from outside of QUT)
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with learning and teaching activities in this unit.
Standards/Competencies
This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.
QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)
HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making
Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Portfolio, Exam
KS (1.1): Discipline and Professional Practice Knowledge
Relates to: ULO3, Portfolio, Exam
KS (1.2): Technical, Technological and Research Skills
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Portfolio, Exam
TS (4.2): Teamwork Knowledge and Skills
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.BS11 Master of Business
- Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
Relates to: ULO3, Portfolio, Exam - Apply technical, technological and technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Portfolio, Exam - Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic and research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Portfolio, Exam - Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across a range of complex activities and contexts.
Relates to: ULO5, Portfolio
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Online
| Unit code: | EFN426 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | EFN406 and EFN420 or BSN451 and BSN456 |
Overview
This unit provides you with skills for approaching a research problem from an econometric approach. These skills are crucial in the use of a range of research methods and business applications. The knowledge and technical skills you gain in this unit will enable you to work effectively with a variety of data and business problems and will have further application in addressing problems they encounter in the subsequent units of this course.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Summarise and interpret the characteristics of data collected using a number of descriptive and graphical techniques. [KS 1.2]Relates to: PG Business Capabilities: KS (1.2)
- Identify research problems in which regression analysis is a suitable econometric tool and support your thinking with informed judgement and use of statistical techniques [KS 1.2, HO 2.2]
- Explain key properties of Ordinary Least Squares estimators and how these relate to regression methods [KS 1.1, KS 1.2]
- Apply estimation and inference techniques and form and justify conclusions for expert and non-expert audiences and use Stata software in the application of key statistical techniques practiced in this unit [KS 1.2, HO 2.2]
- Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration [TS 4.2]Relates to: PG Business Capabilities: TS (4.2)
Content
You will cover the theoretical and practical aspects of regression analysis including for example:
- Descriptive statistics
- Probability distributions
- Method of Ordinary Least Squares
- Estimation and Interpretation
- Hypothesis Testing
- Cross-sectional and time-series regression
- Model Assessment
- Use of Stata
You will apply these skills to real world practical problems in business disciplines.
QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)
The content and assessment in this unit are aligned to a selection of the following set of QUT Business Capabilities, also known as Assurance of Learning Goals (AoLs). Developing these capabilities will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT and equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your chosen career.
Knowledge & Technical Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
1.2 Apply technical, technological and technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HO)
2.1 Critically investigate real world business issues and problems drawing on analysis, evaluation and synthesis of discipline knowledge, including theory and practice.
2.2 Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic and research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.
Professional Communication (PC)
3.1 Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.
3.2 Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.
Teamwork & Self (TS)
4.1 Exercise self-reflection and accountability in applying knowledge and skills for own learning and effective practice.
4.2 Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across a range of complex activities and contexts.
Social, Ethical & Global Understanding (SE)
5.1 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in critically analysing and effectively responding to complex business issues.
5.2 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues and critically reflect on the responsibilities and impacts of organisations in national and international business contexts.
Learning Approaches
In this unit, you will learn by engaging in a theory-to-practice approach to support learning. Lectures will explore and discuss the theoretical foundation for the econometric tools used in the unit with reference to their value in support of research and business practice. Access to the required background knowledge in these areas will be provided in form of optional tutorials. Students will develop and practice the relevant skills in this unit through supervised computer laboratory sessions and will apply these skills to address a variety of real world problems drawn from business disciplines. In these laboratory sessions students will be working with software widely used in academia and in industry. The learning and teaching approaches and the assessment regime in this unit are designed so students can assess their progress in the unit, foster their skill development and broaden their skill application over time.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester, which may include:
- Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
- Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
- Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
- Indirect: to whole class
Assessment
Overview
General Assessment Information
The assessment in this unit aims to support your achievement of the unit learning outcomes and course assurance of learning goals. The assessment has been designed in order to allow you to:
- receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes (formative assessment);
- demonstrate your learning in order to achieve a final grade (summative assessment)
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Portfolio
You are given computer-based statistics tasks, technical analysis, and reporting sequenced over time, which are compiled into a portfolio, and coupled with self and/or peer reflections.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assessment item is based on teamwork and provides evidence of achievement of associated Unit Learning Outcomes and Course Learning Outcomes. Individual submissions will not be accepted for group components.
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), KS (1.2), HO (2.2), TS (4.2)
Assessment: Exam
Practical examination where you complete problem solving tasks.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.
This invigilated examination requires attendance on campus or at an assessment centre, regardless of your attendance mode for the unit.
This assessment item is Verified Identity Assessment. Requirements are provided on the Unit Canvas site.
Formative or Summative: Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), KS (1.2), HO (2.2)
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Additional resources will be provided on the unit Canvas site.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Prescribed Text - Hurn, Martin, Phillips, Yu: Financial econometric modeling, Oxford University Press, 2021.
Software: Stata (available in selected QUT labs, or via VPN connection from outside of QUT)
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with learning and teaching activities in this unit.
Standards/Competencies
This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.
QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)
HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making
Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Portfolio, Exam
KS (1.1): Discipline and Professional Practice Knowledge
Relates to: ULO3, Portfolio, Exam
KS (1.2): Technical, Technological and Research Skills
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Portfolio, Exam
TS (4.2): Teamwork Knowledge and Skills
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.BS11 Master of Business
- Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
Relates to: ULO3, Portfolio, Exam - Apply technical, technological and technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Portfolio, Exam - Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic and research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Portfolio, Exam - Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across a range of complex activities and contexts.
Relates to: ULO5, Portfolio