Course coordinator
Professor Peter Clarkson
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Business School
Economics-based research in financial accounting, in particular studies of use of accounting information in capital markets & factors influencing choices of accounting policy.
This subject focuses on the use of both financial and non-financial information by the capital markets in the equity valuation process. It utilises academic research studies from the disciplines of Accounting and Finance to develop an appreciation of how and why information can impact price, how the capital markets assess the quality of the information (e.g., earnings quality), and both the role that financial analysts play in the price formation process and the types of information that they use.
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
Permission from Head of School
Restrictions
BAdvBus(Hons), BCom(Hons), GCBusRMeth, GDipBRM, MCom(#32), MCom(Adv), PhD, MPhil. BAdvBus(Hons) students are required to email bel@uq.edu.au for permission to enrol. Quota: Minimum of 10 enrolments.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Professor Peter Clarkson
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Please note: Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you email business.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:
- Full name
- Student ID
- Course Code
Aims and outcomes
In this course, you will read and evaluate major research papers in financial accounting. This class will focus on the "cutting edge" of financial accounting research. The readings and discussion will emphasise the
choices faced by different participants in the financial accounting process, and how these choices affect other participants. Most of the papers are empirical studies of actual phenomena in capital markets, but a few papers
present theoretical models of economic behaviour that will help illustrate the choice problems of different agents in the economy.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Develop an appreciation of the role, activities, and incentives of capital market participants including accountants, analysts, managers, regulators, and investors.
LO2.
Develop basic skills in reading and interpreting scholarly research from the disciplines of both Accounting and Finance, and an awareness of the role of scholarly research in Accounting and Finance topics for investigating and generating solutions to practical accounting problems that potentially impact the equity valuation process.
LO3.
Be able to identify attributes of reporting quality (both financial and non-financial).
LO4.
Undertake your own research
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Tutorial/ Problem Set | Practical Exercises and Article Reviews | 20% |
Week 2 Wed - Week 13 Wed
Due dates will be allocated in class. |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Preliminary Research Proposal - Part A | 10% |
8/05/2025 3:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Preliminary Research Proposal - Part B | 25% |
22/05/2025 3:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Final Assignment
|
45% |
19/06/2025 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Practical Exercises and Article Reviews
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
Week 2 Wed - Week 13 Wed
Due dates will be allocated in class.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
The papers set for reading each week will need to be reviewed by students for discussion in class. As a part of this process, students will be provided with a set of either 1 or 2 questions relating to the material in each of the Seminars during the semester for which they are expected to provide an intuitive (as opposed to technical) response in order to demonstrate their understanding of the underlying issues.
Responses to each question should not exceed one page typed, 12 point font double spaced (i.e., 2 pages in total for weeks when there are 2 questions).
The submissions are DUE at the beginning of the following class.
Further details of these exercises and reviews will be provided by your lecturer at the first lecture.
AI Statement:
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.
Submission guidelines
The assessment is to be submitted directly to the instructor as an e-mail attachment
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Preliminary Research Proposal - Part A
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
8/05/2025 3:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L04
Task description
For this assessment, students must submit a preliminary research proposal that is divided into two parts.
Part A, this assessment, is a written document of no more than 5 pages that presents clear and specific research questions for investigation.
This document should also include a clear explanation of the motivation for the research question and the potential impact or contribution that the investigation could make to the field of study.
Note, Part B will typically build upon this submitted document.
AI Statement:
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.
Submission guidelines
Submission directly to the instructor as an e-mail attachment
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Preliminary Research Proposal - Part B
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
22/05/2025 3:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L04
Task description
For this assignment, you will be building upon the Research Questions you previously submitted in Part A of your Research Proposal.
In Part B, you will be developing your hypotheses that will be tested during your research study. Additionally, you will be outlining an appropriate research methodology for testing your hypotheses.
This document should be no more than 8 to 10 pages in length.
AI Statement:
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.
Submission guidelines
The assessment is to be submitted directly to the instructor as an e-mail attachment
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Final Assignment
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 45%
- Due date
19/06/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
The final assessment will be a take home assignment.
The assessment will consist of essay type questions requiring research and critique responses which are designed to enable you to display your understanding of the material covered in the course.
AI Statement:
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.
Submission guidelines
To be submitted as as single document directly to the instructor as an e-mail attachment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 46 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Grades will be allocated according to University-wide standards of criterion-based assessment.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Own copy required
You'll need to have your own copy of the following reading resources. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Webpage |
Social Science Research Network
Publisher: Social Science Research Network |
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 |
Seminar |
Week 1 - Introduction to Valuation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 2 |
Seminar |
Week 2 - Voluntary Disclosure Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 3 |
Seminar |
Week 3 - Economic Consequences of Disclosure Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 4 |
Seminar |
Week 4 - Corporate Governance Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 5 |
Seminar |
Week 5 - Earnings Management I Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 6 |
Seminar |
Week 6 - Earnings Management II Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 7 |
Seminar |
Week 7 - Financial Analysts Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 8 |
Seminar |
Week 8 - Earnings Guidance Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 9 |
Seminar |
Week 9 - Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Reporting Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 10 |
Seminar |
Week 10 - Valuation Relevance of Carbon Emissions Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 11 |
Workshop |
Week 11 - Research Proposal PART B Learning outcomes: L02, L04 |
Week 12 |
Seminar |
Week 12 - Climate Change Risk Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 13 |
Seminar |
Week 13 - Course Review Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.