Order 1060527: Quantitative methods/Data analysis

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Quantitative Methods Final Assignment

MSc CFM – Semester 2

The objective of this assignment is to provide students with the opportunity to apply the quantitative

methods reviewed during the course to real data in view of answering a research question (option 1), or

to plan out the data collection and analysis processes in view of answering a research question (option 2).

Students are encouraged to take advantage of this exercise to incorporate quantitative methods into the

analysis to be included in their dissertation.

This assignment may be completed in groups of two or three students. It must be submitted by email to

[email protected] before midnight of Friday April 27, 2018.

Option 1: Modelling exercise

Present the research question and any hypotheses to be tested. Justify the interest in answering the

question and assessing the hypotheses. Present the model to estimate. Explain the model and how it

allows one to assess the hypotheses and answer the research question. Collect the relevant data.

Document all data sources, as well as the data cleaning and/or preparation process(es). Justify the

estimation procedure to be implemented, including any diagnostics that were carried out. Present and

analyse the results. Use the results to assess the hypotheses and answer the research question. Write up

the whole process in the form of a professional report. Make sure to discuss any limitations encountered

along the way. The report should include the code implemented in R, along with the results generated by

R, but what is even more important is the careful discussion of why certain decisions were made during

the research process.

Option 2: Questionnaire design

Present the research question and any hypotheses to be tested. Justify the interest in answering the

question and assessing the hypotheses. Present the model to estimate. Explain the model and how it

allows one to assess the hypotheses and answer the research question. Develop the questionnaire and

design the surveying process. Carefully document which principles of survey design were taken into

account and explain how they were taken into account. Present any data preparation that is anticipated

and justify the estimation procedure to be implemented. Include a detailed discussion of how the

hypotheses will be assessed and the research question answered. Write up the whole process in the form

of a professional report. Make sure to discuss any limitations encountered along the way. It is crucially

important to discuss why certain decisions were made during the research process.