Corporate Finance_Research paper

Week Eight: Research Paper – List of potential research topics

To complete the Article Research Paper due in Week 8, please select a topic from the list

provided below or from the chapter readings.

 Technology and innovation in small businesses

 Social media and small business promotion and innovation

 Corporate governance and financial performance

 Corporate fraud and scandals and impact on owners’ wealth

 Entrepreneurial finance: Equity crowdfunding

 Entrepreneurial finance: venture capital investments

 Entrepreneurial finance: Angel investments

 Time value of money and advancement in technology

 Time value of money and its applications in corporate finance

 Time value of money and valuation of small & private businesses

 Time value of money and the discount rate controversy

 Capital budgeting practices in specific industries or in foreign countries

 Small Companies approach to capital budgeting decisions in new technology

 Forecasting errors in capital budgeting process – Post audit studies

 The impact of behavioral finance (e.g. emotions, overconfidence etc.) on capital budgeting decisions

 Uncertainty of cash flows and risk analysis models

 The validity of CAPM in estimating risk and return

 Empirical analysis of CAPM on S&P 500 Index

 Compare investment behavior of investors in developed and developing countries

 Explore common theories of behavioral finance that explain financial investment behavior

 Study risk perceptions of investors and how they influence investment decisions

 Relationship between capital structure and firm value

 Capital structure decisions of S&P500 firms and their performance

 Do macroeconomic factors affect capital structure decisions of firms?

 Does credit rating of a firm determine capital structure choices?

 Does optimal dividend policy affect a firm’s value?

 Clientele effect of dividend policy: Does dividend payment affect investment decisions?

 Working capital management practices of small businesses

 Effects of working capital management on profitability

 Determinants and consequences of working capital management on firm value

 Managing financial risk with options

 Exchange rate movement and its implications

 Managing capital project investment in foreign countries

 Emergence of initial public offerings as an investment avenue

 Financial crisis in a selected foreign country

 Risks of International business

Research Paper: This is a graduate course and students will be expected to research and write

papers summarizing in their own words what they have found on current topics from the weekly

readings. Research is a theoretical review of relevant literature and application of findings in the

literature to a topic related to a specific industry, field, or business problem.

The research must be conducted using peer-reviewed trade or academic journals. While

Blogs, Wikipedia, encyclopedias, course textbooks, popular magazines, newspaper articles,

online websites, etc. are helpful for providing background information, these resources

are NOT suitable resources for this research assignment.

Please Note: The UC Library staff are very helpful with assisting students in using the UC

Online Library journal database. Please contact them if you have issues. In addition, the

instructor has provided additional resources, including a research tutorial, in the “Course

Resources” folder in the “Content” area of the course.

Assignment Requirements:

i. Choose a research topic from the chapter readings or from the list provided by your

professor.

ii. Research/find a minimum at least ten (10), preferably fifteen (15) or more, different peer-

reviewed articles on your topic from the University of the Cumberlands Library online

business database. The article(s) must be relevant and from a peer-reviewed source.

While you may use relevant articles from any time frame, current/published within the

last five (5) years are preferred. Using literature that is irrelevant or unrelated to the

chosen topic will result in a point reduction.

iii. Write a ten (10) to fifteen (15) page double spaced paper in APA format discussing the

findings on your specific topic in your own words. Note - paper length does not include

cover page, abstract, or references page(s).

iv. Structure your paper as follows:

a. Cover page

b. Overview describing the importance of the research topic to current business and

professional practice in your own words.

c. Purpose of Research should reflect the potential benefit of the topic to the

current business and professional practice and the larger body of research.

d. Review of the Literature summarized in your own words. Note that this should

not be a “copy and paste” of literature content, nor should this section be

substantially filled with direct quotes from the article. A literature review is a

summary of the major points and findings of each of the selected articles (with

appropriate citations). Direct quotations should be used sparingly. Normally, this

will be the largest section of your paper (this is not a requirement; just a general

observation).

e. Practical Application of the literature. Describe how your findings from the

relevant research literature can shape, inform, and improve current business and

professional practice related to your chosen topic.

f. Conclusion in your own words

g. References formatted according to APA style requirements

Grading Criteria:

 Content Knowledge & Structure (40 points): All of the requested components are

completed as assigned; content is on topic and related to corporate finance, critical

thinking is clearly demonstrated (few, if any, direct quotations from the source in the

paper); scholarly research is demonstrated; topics and concepts gained from the assigned

reading and/or from research is evident.

 Critical Thinking (40 points): Demonstrates substantial critical thinking about topics and

solid interpretation of materials and reflection.

 Clarity & Effective Communication (40 points): Communication is clear, concise, and

well presented; scholarly writing is demonstrated; grammar, sentence structure, writing in

third person, and word choice is used correctly.

 Integration of Knowledge & Articles (40 points): Articles used are current and relevant

(preferably published within last five (5) years and MUST be from peer-reviewed journal

article publications. At least four (4) peer-reviewed journal articles are examined and

analyzed in the paper.

 Presentation & Writing Mechanics (80 points): Cover page, headings, in-text citations,

page citations (page number citations required for specific information such as dates,

years, list of items from article, names, numbers, statistics, and other specific

information), and references are properly formatted.

Please Note: Plagiarism will not be tolerated. The paper must be written in your own words.