FACULTY OF BUSINESS AND LAW

ACADEMIC YEAR 2020/21

Coursework Assessment Brief

Module Code: UMADBK-15-M

Module Title: Quantitative Research Methods

Submission Deadline: 20 May 2021

Assessment Component: CW2 (Component A: Proposal/Project)
Assessment Weighting: 40 per cent of total module mark
Marking and feedback deadline (20 working days): 17 June 2021
N.B. all times are 24-hour clock, current local time (at time of submission) in the UK

Assessment Instructions

Complete the dissertation proposal form – Maximum 1500 Words (completed proposal should
be around 5 pages). The template of the dissertation proposal form can be found on page 7 of
this document.

Along with the completed Dissertation Proposal, you are also required to provide the full
reference of at least 5 (but no more than 10) peer-reviewed papers that are most relevant to
the proposal.

In particular the following learning outcomes are tested in this assessment:

 Appreciate and apply key techniques in quantitative analysis

 Understand and critically evaluate quantitative methods for research in finance
 Engage in the planning of a structured independent research project and be able to
communicate and write up the results of that project
 Critically review the key empirical literature in the relevant finance area, and take into full
account the ethical context of a research project

1
Marking Criteria

The following criteria will be used in evaluating this assessment:

* Aims and Objectives

- clearly stated?
- intellectually challenging?
Overall (circle as appropriate) A+ A B C D E
* Motivation
Overall (circle as appropriate) A+ A B C D E
* Literature review
- demonstrates critical appreciation of literature?
- sources attributed adequately in text & bibliography?
Overall A+ A B C D E
* Methodology
Overall A+ A B C D E
* Methods for data collection
Overall A+ A B C D E
* Timescale & Planning
Overall A+ A B C D E
* Presentation and References
- ease of reading?
- use of English (grammar, spelling, punctuation)?
- clarity of layout
- use of summaries, tables, diagrams etc?
- within word limit?
Overall A+ A B C D E

2
Grading criteria:

A+ (85-100%) Outstanding Pass; An outstanding piece of work that exceeds by far

the requirements and shows a deep understanding of the subject
and discussion ability
A (70-84%) Distinctive Pass; Excellent work that exceeds the requirement of the
module learning outcomes in all important dimensions
B (60-69%) Meritorious Pass; Very good work at M level – satisfied all important
requirements of assessment task and module learning outcomes
C (50-59%) Pass; Good work at M level – student demonstrates achievement
against all learning outcomes but with some limitations
D (45-49%) Marginal fail; Does not meet the required overall standard – may
have some good qualities but some learning outcomes not met.
Incorrect analysis or lack of discussion.
E (0-44%) Fail; Contains significant flaws, few of the learning outcomes for the
module have been demonstrated

Formative feedback and support during the module

Students will be given a detailed written report on their essay. The report would highlight the
points of strength and relevant contributions, but will also indicate the weaker points and
propose suggestions as to how to improve the discussion and/or argument.

Further information about this assessment is available on the Blackboard site

for this module and includes:

 Guidance documents
 Module handbook
 Lecture notes

Formatting

Please use the following file format(s): Word and PDF. We cannot ensure that other formats are
compatible with markers’ software and cannot guarantee to mark incorrect formats.

All work should be word processed in 12-point font Times New Roman or Arial and single
spaced.

3
The first page of your coursework must include:
 Your student number
 The module name and number
 Your word count
 The coursework question

Word Limit

The maximum word limit for this coursework is 1500 words.

 There is no +/- 10% on word count and anything after the maximum word count will not be
marked, in line with UWE Bristol’s Word Count Policy.
 In line with UWE policy, this word count includes everything in the main body of the text
(including headings, tables, citations, quotes, lists, etc.).
 The references, bibliography and footnotes (provided footnotes only include references) are
NOT included in this word count.

Referencing and Assessment Offences

Please ensure you reference all sources used when developing your assessment, using the UWE
Harvard system. Failure to properly reference your work to original source material can be
grounds for the assessment offence of plagiarism and may result in failure of the assessment or
more serious implications. Further guidance on correct referencing is available on UWE’s Study
Skills referencing pages.

UWE’s Assessment Offences Policy outlines potential offences and it is your responsibility to
understand this policy and avoid potential offences. Details of what constitutes plagiarism and
how to avoid it can be found on UWE’s Study Skills pages about avoiding plagiarism.

Text-matching software (e.g. SafeAssign) is used to check every submission against other
submissions made at the same time, previous submissions to UWE and other universities, and
internet sources. We may also manually search for matches. When submitting your work, you
will be required to confirm that the work is your own.

It is an assessment offence to:

- copy work from any source, including your own previous assessments, and present it as
your own work for this assessment, or to provide your own work to others
- to work with others on the assessment in any way, or for anyone to make amends on
your work (including proof-readers, who may highlight issues but not edit the work)
- change individual words but keep, essentially, the same sentences and/or structures
from other sources: this will be detected by text-matching software. Please write in your
own words and style to convey your own learning.

4
Instructions for submission

You must submit your assignment before the stated deadline by electronic submission
through Blackboard. Notification that the electronic submission portal is open for your
assignment is displayed (usually two weeks before the submission date) in the Coursework tab
in myUWE, the Coursework tab in Blackboard and via an announcement in the Blackboard
course.

Please allow sufficient time to upload your assignment, as the system becomes busier and
slower as the deadline approaches. Only your final upload will be counted. Ensure all your
information is submitted at one attempt to avoid overwriting your intended submission. Always
check and retain your receipts.

Late submission in the 24 hours following the deadline will be accepted but the assignment
mark will be capped at a pass. Submissions after 24 hours will not be accepted. For full
guidance on online submission through Blackboard, see UWE’s Academic Advice pages on
Assignments.

Submissions of coursework by any other method (including a paper copy, on disk or by email)
are NOT permissible for this module unless specifically agreed in advance of the submission
date.

Before submitting your work, please ensure that:

 You have proof-read you work thoroughly to ensure your work is presented
appropriately

 You have addressed all the required elements of the assessment

 You have referenced in accordance with the guidance provided

 You have addressed each of the marking criterion

 The submission is in the correct format

Final feedback and marks release

Students will normally receive marks and feedback on their submission within 20 working days
of the submission deadline (not including public holidays or university closure days). Any delay
in returning students’ work will be communicated by the module leader via Blackboard.

Feedback on this module is not limited to the written comments you will receive on individual
written assessment submissions.

Feedback and marks for this module will be available by 17 June 2021. For further guidance on
feedback, please refer to the module handbook.

5
Further guidance and support

There are a number of sources of support to improve your study skills, including:
 The UWE Library Study Skills pages – for online support and bookable workshops
 The Faculty of Business and Law’s Academic Success Centre for bookable workshops
 Guidance on using UWE’s Library.

Specific study skills pages relating to this module include:

 How to plan and structure your writing
 Writing skills
 Research skills / techniques
 Report writing
 Reflective writing
 How to write critically
 English language support

For further guidance on UWE assessment regulations and terminology see UWE’s Academic
Advice pages.

Personal Circumstances

If you are experiencing difficulties in completing a piece of assessment on time due to

unexpected circumstances (for example illness, accident, bereavement), seek advice from a
Student Support Adviser at the earliest opportunity. Appointments can be made via an
Information Point or online via the Student Support Pages.

Student Support Advisers can advise as to whether you should submit an application for
‘Personal Circumstances (PCs)’, how to do so and what evidence is required to support the
application. Further details on PCs can be found on the Student Support Pages.

The module leader cannot grant personal circumstances or extensions.

6
 Quantitative Research Methods 2019-2020
Assessed Coursework: Dissertation Proposal (40% of total marks)

Submission date: 20 May 2021

Please complete the following dissertation proposal form. The word limit is 1500 Words (roughly
5 pages). Along with the completed Dissertation Proposal, please provide the full reference of at
least 5 (but no more than 10) peer-reviewed papers that are most relevant to the proposal.

Dissertation Proposal Form

Name:

Student Number:

Programme of Study:

PROVISIONAL TITLE

Please note that you are free to change your title of research for your actual dissertation. At this
stage it should closely mirror the content of your proposal.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIVES

This should provide a clear indication of what your research seeks to achieve.

7
MOTIVATION

This should explain why you feel the research you are planning is worthwhile. This may be
expressed in the form of a problem which needs solving, or something you find of interest. You
are expected to demonstrate, in brief, a clear link between the previous work that has been done
in this field and the content of your proposal. You should indicate the key literature sources from
which you intend to draw your ideas.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This section should detail how you intend to achieve your research objectives.

Research Design: This section gives an overall view of the method chosen and the
reason for that choice.

Data Collection: This section should include much more detail about how specifically
the data are to be collected and associated issues of access and
ethics.

TIMESCALE

This should provide a guide to the anticipated completion of each stage of your research.

Target date Tasks to be achieved

8
RESOURCES

This will provide an indication of the viability of your proposal, in terms of finance, data access
and equipment, and should include an acknowledgement of any anticipated problems in any
area.

Finance: include, if any, costs such as travel, subsistence and/or postage for
questionnaires

Data Access: state how you will access the required data. For example, using Datastream
provided by UWE, or if your data are obtained from external source, do you
have contacts within relevant organisations?

Equipment: state how you intend to analyse the data, especially any computer software
packages to be used

REFERENCES

Provide a list of 5 to 10 literature sources to which you have referred in the background section
that relate to the previous work undertaken in your area of study.

FOR MODULE LEADER USE ONLY

First Marker: Second Marker: