Individual Coursework
Instruction
Aim: To test students’ basic econometric knowledge and skills specified in learning outcomes by replicating an empirical study published in a ABS or ABDC referred accounting and finance journal.
Requirement:
(1) Select one out of three articles below:
Chen, J. (2004). Determinants of capital structure of Chinese-listed companies. Journal of Business Research, 57(12):1341-1351.
Chen. C, and AI-Najjar. B (2012). The determinants of board size and independence: Evidence from China. International Business Review, 21(5):831-846.
JI, X. and LU, W. (2014). The Value Relevance and Reliability of Intangible Assets: Evidence from Australia Before and After Adopting IFRS. Asian Review of Accounting, 22(3):182-216. (5 marks)
Note: The selection list of individual coursework will be opened in Learning Mall (LMO) on 1 April 2025 (after the lecture in week 7). Please send your selection to Xuechun Liu (Xuechun.Liu@xjtlu.edu.cn) cc. to Dr. Xudong Ji (Xudong.Ji@xjtlu.edu.cn). Ms. Xuechun Liu will update the selection list regularly and provide information about which spots have been taken. The selection is based on “First come First Serve (allocate)” rule. Your selection shall be different to other students’ selection. Therefore, each student will be allocated to a unique dataset. Student can choose a dataset with the same year but with different data coverage. Or student can choose a dataset with the same data coverage but with different year. For the proposed new (or additional) hypothesis in point (6), students are encouraged to choose a different hypothesis. However, up to 20 students can choose the same hypothesis. The deadline for the selection (or changing of the selection) is 25 April 2025.
(2) Read thoroughly the selected article, understand the theories applied and hypotheses
developed in the article. Make sure that you can fully understand the model specification and empirical results in the selected article before replicating. (Replicating means using the same or modified econometric models specified in selected article and using a different set of data, not regenerating the exact the same results as shown the selected article) (5 marks)
(3) Collect relevant data for replicating the econometric models specified in selected article. You only need to collect a set of cross-sectional data for a Chinese listed firm from CSMAR or other subscribed databases by XJTLU. (10 marks)
(4) Replicate the analysis by using your collected data set. Report your analysis of results with relevant tables in your individual coursework report. (30 marks)
(5) Provide codes in R used in your analysis in the appendix of individual coursework report. (10 marks)
(6) Add one additional hypothesis and modify the models if needed in your individual coursework report. Students are encouraged to choose a different hypothesis. Only up to 20 students can choose the same hypothesis. Collect data for testing your additional hypothesis and report your results (20 marks)
(7) Provide codes in R used in testing your additional hypothesis in the appendix of individual coursework report. (10 marks)
(8) Complete your individual coursework report with a conclusion. (10 marks)
(Total marks= 5+5+10+30+10+20+10+10 =100)
(No word limit, but it is suggested around 2,000 words)
Presenting Written Work for Assessment
The following is a guideline relating to the presentation and submission of written individual coursework reports (Approximately 2,000 words is recommended):
● This report is required to be on A4 paper and word-processed in 12 font Times New Roman or Arial with a minimum of 1.5-line spacing.
● All pages are to be numbered. Your student number should appear on each page.
● The report should include a cover sheet (a template is provided on Learning Mall) showing the programme title, module number and name, title of the assignment, the name of the student submitting the work and the submission date.
● Margins should be as follows: Top: 1 inch, Bottom: 1 inch (2.5 cm), Left: 1.25 inches, suitable: 1.25 inches (3.2 cm).
● Work should be in English (UK) and grammatically correct, with careful attention to sentence construction, syntax, and spelling.
● The Harvard referencing system must be used wherever the work of others is cited, and all sources should be acknowledged (Refer to Referencing Guidelines, which are available from the library):http://libguides.lib.xjtlu.edu.cn/ld.php?content_id=5887149
● Please keep a copy of your report and be able to produce it upon demand.
● Please upload your individual coursework report (final version) onto LMO well before the deadlines in case of unforeseen circumstances and to pre-empt late submissions. The deadline is Sunday 25th May 2025 at 23.59 (i.e., the end of Week 14).
● You should name your report files in the following format: Student Given Name.Surname.ID.ACC207 IND.docx; for example, (John.King.902025.ACC207IND.docx).
● Upload the dataset (final version which is imported into R) used for your individual coursework. Name the files as: Student Given Name.Surname.ID.ACC207 IND.data; for example, (John.King.902025.ACC207IND.data). The dataset can be in excel or csv format.
Assessment Criteria
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80+ As below plus:
● Excellent work that contains relevant material and shows analysis, originality or creativity of approach and a clear, well‐articulated understanding of the subject matter;
● Wide research incorporating up‐to‐date, relevant original material. Accurate citation and use of references;
● Excellent with few or no errors in organisation, structure, grammar, spelling, punctuation, use
of diagrams and tables.
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70 - 79 As below plus:
● Very good work that is clearly written, well‐argued and covers the subject matter in a thorough, thoughtful and competent manner. Contains some originality of approach, insight or synthesis;
● Good evidence of research and good use of source material;
● Good use and presentation of references;
● Very good presentation, organisation, grammar, spelling, punctuation, diagrams and tables.
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60 - 69 As below plus:
● A very good, well‐presented piece of work covering much of the subject matter and that is clearly and lucidly written;
● Good attempt to consider and evaluate the material presented;
● Evidence of research in the topic area and satisfactory use of sources and references;
● Good organisation, structure, use and flow of language, grammar, spelling, format, diagrams, tables, etc.
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50 - 59 As below plus:
● Work that demonstrates understanding of the topic area with some attempt to discuss material;
● Evidence of research in the topic area extending beyond key texts;
● Satisfactory presentation and / or use of references according to convention;
● A satisfactory attempt to follow directions regarding organisation, structure, use and flow of language, grammar, spelling, format, diagrams, tables, etc.
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40 - 49 As below plus:
● Adequate work that attempts to address the topic and demonstrates some understanding of the basic aspects of the subject matter;
● Topic is researched using mainly books and the internet;
● Attempts to use and / or present references according to convention;
● A basic attempt to follow directions regarding organisation, structure, use and flow of language, grammar, spelling, format, diagrams, tables, etc.
30 - 39 Fail
• Work in this range attempts to address the question/problem, but is substantially incomplete and deficient;
• Serious problems with a number of aspects of language usage are often found in work, and the work may be severely under/over-length and/or fails to grasp the nature of the topic matter;
● Content, analysis, expression, structure and use of sources will be very weak or missing.
0 - 29 Fail
• No serious attempt to address the question or problem, and/or manifests a serious misunderstanding of the requirements of the assignment;
● Acutely deficient in all aspect.
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