This course provides the student with an opportunity to pursue a substantive piece of independent research on a topic of their choice in economics. The research is carried out under the supervision of an academic economist. This research project will have a strong quantitative component, although theoretical or other contributions are possible. The study must present a clear and interesting research question, bring suitable evidence to bear on this question, and provide detail on the research design, results, implications, and limitations in a clear and concise manner. The course is taken over two semesters and the dissertation is due at the end of the student’s second semester in the course.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Conduct original research in economics.
2. Critically review economic literature and theory.
3. Choose and apply appropriate analytical methods
4. Write clearly in a style suitable for economics journals.
5. Make effective oral research presentations.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying remotely, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

This course takes place over two semesters, with students able to commence in either semester 1 or semester 2. Assessment items 1 to 4 are completed during the first semester of participation; assessment items 5 - 7 are completed during the second semester of participation. Students enrol in the course in their first semester of participation.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Week 1: Course Introduction and special topic (optional if in the research component of the course)	Lecturer: Ryan Edwards and guest
2	Week 2: Empirical strategies in economics and special topic (optional if in the research component of the course)	Lecturer: Ryan Edwards and guest
3	Week 3: Data, software, and writing your proposal, and special topic (optional if in the research component of the course)	Lecturer: Ryan Edwards and guest
4	Week 4: Writing your research essay and special topic (optional if in the research component of the course)	Lecturer: Ryan Edwards and guest
5	Week 5: Presenting and discussing research and special topic (optional if in the research component of the course)	Lecturer: Ryan Edwards and guest
6	Week 6: Proposal presentations and discussions (no presentation required if in the research component of the course)
7	Week 7: Research week	This week time is set aside for individual research work.
8	Week 8: Research week	This week time is set aside for individual research work.
9	Week 9: Research week	This week time is set aside for individual research work.
10	Week 10: Research week	This week time is set aside for individual research work.
11	Week 11: Practice presentations	There will be an optional session for students who would like feedback on their presentation.
12	Week 12: Final presentations

Tutorial Registration

NA

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Research proposal	5 %	1,2,3
Proposal presentation	5 %	3
Interim presentation	5 %	3
Interim Paper	15 %	1,2,4,5,6
Final Presentation	5 %	3
Replication files or other workings	5 %	3
Research project	60 %	1,2,4,5,6

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Research proposal

Describe the economic issue that your Master's Research Project will address, specifically the question you will answer; critique the existing literature on the topic of your essay with a focus on how the literature relates specifically to your question and the relative contribution of your essay; outline your research plan, and explain and justify the approach that you intend to use to answer your research question; proposal length is

Length: 2 A4 pages, minimum 1.15 spacing, and the focus on being clear and concise

Due date: Week 6 of your first semester in IDEC8033

Assessment Task 2

Proposal presentation

Oral presentation of your research question, how the current literature relates to your question, and your research plan.

Duration: 5 minutes, plus 5 minutes for questions.

Due date: this presentation will take place in Week 6 of your first semester in IDEC8033

Assessment Task 3

Interim presentation

Duration: 10 minutes, plus 5 minutes for questions. This presentation will be an update on your research progress as will be presented in your interim paper.

Due date: this presentation will take place in Week 12 of your first semester in IDEC8033

Assessment Task 4

Interim Paper

This paper will report on your progress on your research and can consist of a literature review, theoretical model, data section, results, etc. as appropriate.

Due date: one week after the last day of your first semester in IDEC8033.

Assessment Task 5

Final Presentation

Oral presentation of your research question, method, and results. Duration: 10 minutes, plus 5 minutes for questions. This assessment is compulsory. Failing to make a final presentation will result in failing the course. The final presentation can be rescheduled due to illness and other legitimate reasons.

Due Date: this presentation will take place in Week 12 of your second semester in IDEC8033, and report on your completed research project.

Assessment Task 6

Replication files or other workings

All students will need to submit a copy of their data and any computer code or programs that they have written or compiled to generate their results. If a student chooses

not to undertake a project that has an empirical component they should discuss this component of assessment with the lecturer during the semester to determine the

appropriate evidence required for their particular project. This assessment is compulsory. Failure to submit data/code will result in failing the course.

Due date: two weeks from the last day of your second semester in IDEC8033, submitted alongside your research project.

Assessment Task 7

Research project

Conduct original research and analysis in economics; write a research paper in the style used in leading economics journal; make an original contribution on an economic issue. The contribution may be to the public policy debate, or to developing and extending economic knowledge; develop a wide range of practical research skills, such as clear and concise writing, research design and econometrics, and discussing and reviewing economics research.

Length: max. 15,000 words, double spaced at size 12, excluding references, tables, figures, and supplementary materials, which should be placed at the end of the manuscript.

Due date: two weeks from the last day of your second semester in IDEC8033

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students