Run by Bangor Business School

15.000 Credits or 7.500 ECTS Credits

Organiser: Dr Chrysovalantis Vasilakis Ms Nicola Kirby

The aim of this module is: 1. To enable students from a variety of backgrounds to undertake postgraduate study in Research methods. 2. To review basic ideas of statistical inference 3. To help equip participants for a career and promotion in the banking and financial services sectors. 4. To develop participants’ intellectual skills and research expertise in the area of banking / finance / economics 5. To relate advanced level study of research methods to practical “real world” events and decisions. 6. To show how other key discipline areas (such as economics, finance and management) relate to the study and understanding of research methods. 7. To advance students’ independent analytical learning skills through the applications of statistics and econometrics.

The overall aim of this module is to equip students with research tools which can be used in their study of other modules and in their mini projects. The course also serves as a foundation for further study of more advanced research methods for those students who wish to pursue higher degrees. We start with an introduction to research methodology and sessions on information technology. The main part of the course comprises an introduction to techniques of describing and summarising data; elements of data modelling; principles of probabilistic inference; regression analysis; time series analysis and survey methodology.

excellent

Excellent standard: 70+ An outstanding performance, exceptionally able. The relevant information accurately deployed. Excellent grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practice elements. Good integration of theory/practice/information in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives. Strong evidence of the use of creative and reflective skills.

threshold

c- to c+ (50-59%): marginal failing yet compensatable work No major omissions or inaccuracies in the deployment of information/skills. Some grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements. Integration of theory/practice/information present intermittently in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives.No major omissions or inaccuracies in the deployment of information/skills. Some grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements. Integration of theory/practice/information present intermittently in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives.• Knowledge of key areas/principles only; • Weaknesses in understanding of main areas; • Limited evidence of background study; • Answer only poorly focussed on question and with some irrelevant material and poor structure; • Arguments presented but lack coherence; • Several factual/computational errors; • No original interpretation; • Only major links between topics are described;

good

B- to B+ (60-69%): Very good performance Most of the relevant information accurately deployed. Good grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements. Good integration of theory/practice/information in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives. Evidence of the use of creative and reflective skills.

Understands most but not all o Evidence of background study o Focussed answer with good structure o Arguments presented coherently o Mostly free of factual errors o Some limited original interpretation o Well known links between topics are described o Problems addressed by existing methods/approaches o Good presentation with accurate communication

1. Critically analyse the importance of research methods in a contemporary context

2. Appropriately apply and employ qualitative techniques in the assessment of financial and banking decisions

3. Critically analyse data from primary and secondary sources

Type	Name	Description	Weight
	Assignment		40.00
	Examination		60.00

		Hours
Private study	This module is to be delivered in blended learning format. Students will receive a detailed study pack comprising three units of self study. There will be mandatory periods of asynchronous online teaching together with online virtual workshops. These will be supplemented by face to face teaching at the Management Centre at the end of semester. Students will also be expected to work together in online groups on pre-assigned topics.	141
Lecture	At least 5 hours of lectures provided on line and some lectures also provided in the class room for those students attending the bi-annual teaching sessions at the management centre - all lectures are recorded. These lectures are also supplemented by vidoes introducing and summarising the different elements of the module which total to a further hour of discussion	6
Seminar	Three seminars of one hour are provided through the web-ex system. Three seminar web-ex sessions are provided to allow students to engage with the materials in a live internet based session over the Web-ex platform this is designed to encourage student interaction and discussion of study materials and module aims.	3

• Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
• Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
• Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
• Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
• Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
• Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
• Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.

• Quantification and design. Data, and their effective organisation, presentation and analysis, are important in economics. The typical student will have some familiarity with the principal sources of economic information and data relevant to industry, commerce, society and government, and have had practice in organising it and presenting it informatively. This skill is important at all stages in the decision-making process.
• An ability to interpret financial data including that arising in the context of the firm or household from accounting statements and data generated in financial markets. The interpretation may involve analysis using statistical and financial functions and procedures such as are routinely available in spreadsheets (eg Microsoft Excel) and statistical packages. It may assume the skills necessary to manipulate financial data and carry out statistical and econometric tests (e.g. estimation and interpretation of asset pricing models; financial modelling and projections; event studies and residuals analysis; elements of time series analysis, such as serial correlation mean reversion, and stochastic volatility).
• An understanding of the relationship between financial theory and empirical testing, and application of this knowledge to the appraisal of the empirical evidence in at least one major theoretical area. The appraisal should involve some recognition of the limitation and evolution of empirical tests and theory (eg the efficient markets hypothesis; anomalies; pricing of derivatives and other securities; bond portfolio management; exchange rates; raising capital and capital structure).
• Numeracy: the use of quantitative skills to manipulate data, evaluate, estimate and model business problems, functions and phenomena.

Reading list

A module reader suplied to students

Textbook (supplied to students) Title : Research Methods for Business: A Skill Building Approach 6th Edition Author : Uma Sekaran & Roger Bougie Publisher : Wiley

Additional Recommended Readings Complete Business Statistics with Student CD [Paperback] Aczel & Sounderpandian 6th Edition

Alternatively the 7th Edition (higher price) Complete Business Statistics [CD-ROM] [Paperback] Aczel & Sounderpandian 7th Edition

Compulsory in courses:

• N3BN: MBA Chartered Banker year 1 (MBA/CBDL)