Course coordinator
Dr Priscilla Man
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Economics School
This course explains how to conduct basic research in economics. It covers the main steps involved in the research process: development of the research proposal, finding and critically evaluating relevant literature, model development, methods for locating and collecting economic data, analytical methods, and writing mechanics. The course has a strong practical focus.
This course introduces students to practical skills required for conducting economic research. In the first part of this course, we will cover basic research skills -- ethics, posing research questions, literature search and evaluation. Next, we will survey research tools addressing causal identification in economic research. The last part of the course is devoted to research communication and collaboration -- presentation, pitching, giving and receiving feedback. Through sharing from industry speakers and workshops on employability, students can develop transferable skillsﾠthat can be applied to both industry and academic contexts. Who says research is only an academic pursuit?
Assessments are scaffolded, starting from an annotated bibliography for the student's own research interests, leading to a research proposal and a reflection. For those intending for further academic research, the research proposal can be used asﾠa stepping stone to Thesis (i.e., ECON7930/31/32).
Blended-learning
ECON7950 is a blended-learning course with the following learning activities:ﾠ
- Weekly online learning modules on UQ Extend;
- 2 -hours in-person, interactive lectures during weeks 1 to 13; and
- Three tutorials: Week 4, week 8, and week 12.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students are assumed to have backgroundﾠknowledge in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics. Some knowledge in your field of research interests is expected.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
ECON7920 or 7921 or 7922
Course contact
School enquiries
School Enquiries, School of Economics
All enquiries regarding student and academic administration (i.e. non-course content information, e.g., class allocation, timetables, extension to assessment due date, etc.) should be directed toﾠenquiries@economics.uq.edu.au.ﾠ
Enquiries relating specifically to course content should be directed to the Course Coordinator/Lecturer.
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Priscilla Man
Tutor
Mr Matthew Oancea
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Tutorial Preferencing: Students must select their preferred tutorial times via their MyUQ Timetable. This should be completed before the end of Teaching Week 1.
Tutorials Information: There will be three tutorials in this course, in Week 4, 8 and 12.
Lectures commence in Week 1.
Please see the Learning Activities section of this Course Profile for the timetabling implications of public holidays.
Important Dates:
- Public Holidays: Fri 18 April (Good Friday), Mon 5 May (Labour Day).
- Mid-Semester Break: 21 April - 25 April. Semester 1 classes recommence on Mon 28 April.
Students should refer to the timetable prior to the commencement of classes to ensure that they have the most up to date information, as from time to time late room changes may occur.
Aims and outcomes
The aim of this course is to equip students with the necessary skills ﾠto undertake supervised independent research work ﾠto a professional standard, and in particular,ﾠ to undertaking future thesis work.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Respect research ethics and apply ethical standards in economic research.
LO2.
Classify, organise and evaluate literature in economics.
LO3.
Develop research ideas and proposals.
LO4.
Communicate research idea effectively to an educated audience.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Annotated Bibliography | 35% |
31/03/2025 1:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Written Proposal | 40% |
28/04/2025 1:00 pm |
| Presentation, Reflection | Reflection and Video Proposal | 25% (10% + 15%) |
9/06/2025 1:00 pm |
Assessment details
Annotated Bibliography
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
31/03/2025 1:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
Students are to state and classify an economic research question of their choice, and list at least three (3) permissible bibliography items relating to the question stated. A detailed annotation is required for the first bibliographic item listed. A brief annotation is required for each of the other two bibliographic items.
A template is provided on the course Blackboard site for students to complete this assessment.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Translation (MT) 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 or MT 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 and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Submit electronically to Turnitin via the course Blackboard site.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
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.
Written Proposal
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
28/04/2025 1:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Building upon their annotated bibliography, students are to submit their own research proposal in the form of a written research proposal template. In the proposal, students should:
- State and classify their research question;
- Describe the significance and innovation of their proposal relative to the literature;
- Describe the methods they would like to use to answer their question; and
- Outline the expected benefits from their proposed research.
A template is provided on the course Blackboard site for students to complete this assessment.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Translation (MT) 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 or MT 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 and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Submit electronically to Turnitin via the course Blackboard site.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
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.
Reflection and Video Proposal
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Presentation, Reflection
- Weight
- 25% (10% + 15%)
- Due date
9/06/2025 1:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Reflection (10%)
Students are to reflect upon a presentation in the Week 13 Lecture, and identify one (1) improvement they can make on their own presentation.
A template will be provided on the Course Blackboard site for students to complete this part of the assessment.
Video Proposal (15%)
Having considered the potential improvement based on their reflection, students will make a 3-minute video pitching their research proposal to a specialised audience.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Translation (MT) 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 or MT 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 and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Reflection: Submit electronically to Turnitin via the course Blackboard site.
Video: Submit electronically to Blackboard Assignment via the course Blackboard site.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
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
A student’s final overall end of semester percentage mark will be rounded to determine their final grade. For example, 64.5% rounds to 65%, while 64.4% rounds to 64%.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Plagiarism
The School of Economics is committed to reducing the incidence of plagiarism. Further information on plagiarism and how to avoid an allegation of plagiarism is available in this course profile under Policies and Procedures. Please refer to the Academic Integrity Modules (AIM). It is strongly recommended that you complete the AIM if you have not already done so.
SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS:
All assignments must be submitted by the due date and time stated in the course profile. For this course, students are required to submit an electronic copy through the relevant submission link on the course Blackboard site.
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.
Additional learning resources information
Academic Papers for Discussion
We will discuss a number of academic papers during the course. A list with a reading schedule will be posted on Blackboard, with papers added gradually during the semester. It is important that students read these papers before they are discussed in class.
UQ Library Resources
Digital Essentials ﾠ-- There are many modules. Feel free to explore as many as you need.
Write, Cite, Submit ﾠ-- Part of the Digital Essentials, above. UQ Library's guide on planning assessments, referencing and submitting assessments.
APA 7th Referencing guide ﾠ-- This course adopts APA 7th referencing style.
Student Services Resources
UQ Student Central ﾠoffers a range of student support services, ranging from handling day-to-day student lifeﾠto crisis support. You may find their Study Skills ﾠsupport helpful.
BEL Employability Resources
BEL Faculty Careers and Employability ﾠoffers a range of development workshops (among other services) on employability skills, which are part of the focus of this course. See their list of workshops.
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 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 1: Introduction and Research ethics Introduction to the course. Research ethics in economics. Learning outcomes: L01 |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 2: Library Resources A workshop by UQ Librarians on library resources for conducting research. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 3: Research questions The what, why and how of research. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 1: Research question and bibliography Clinic for your first assessment: Annotated Bibliography. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
Lecture |
Lecture 4: Literature Review Positioning your research question against the existing literature. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
|
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 5: Randomised Controlled Trials Randomised controlled trials and economic experiments. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Lecture |
Lecture 6: Causal Identification Difference-in-difference, Regression discontinuity, Instrumental variables and Propensity score matching. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Lecture |
Lecture 7: Structural estimation and Theory Structural estimation, Calibration, and Theory research Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 2: Research proposal Clinic for your second assessment: Research Proposal Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Public Holiday (Good Friday) Friday 18/04 is a public holiday. There will be no lecture on this day. |
|
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-semester break No lecture, workshop or consultation. |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture 9: Communicating research Writing and presenting Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture 10: Finding Research Support High-impact communication. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture 11: Feedback and reflection Giving and receiving feedback on research work. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 3: Oral communication Clinic for your video presentation. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
Lecture |
Lecture 12: Research in an Industry Context Guest lecture by Dr. Sarah Cornell-Farrow (FTI Consulting) on conducting economic research in an industry context. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
|
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Lecture |
Lecture 13: Grand Finale Join us for the 3-minute proposal competition and vote for your favourite contestant! 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.