1.Assessment Criteria and Marking Guidelines 1.1Assessment Information Individual Project 100 % (word limit: 2,000 words excluding references and appendices) The project aims to provide hands-on experience in conducting applied econometrics work and communicating econometric results to non-econometrically literate readers. You are required to choose a topic for your project. The purpose of this project is to use multiple regression analysis to build an explanatory equation for the dependent variable of your interest. The sample of your data must include at least 30 observations (it would be preferable to analyse a larger sample). Write a report, containing answers to the following questions: (1) Comment on the expected relationships between your dependent and explanatory variables. (2) Perform and interpret a multiple regression. (3) Apply the methodology of hypothesis testing to investigate if your empirical findings are consistent with the theoretical expectations. Comment on your findings. (4) Apply relevant diagnostic tests to check for model specification error, multicollinearity, heteroscedasticity and/or autocorrelation. Comment on what you could do differently to improve the performance of the multiple regressions. If possible, take appropriate course of action to address the issue. You should submit an e-copy of your essay via blackboard. In addition, you must email your data file (Excel format) to the module leader before the submission deadline. Structure guideline I. Introduction: states the objectives of the project II. Literature review: A concise review of relevant previous literature and research. Based on this, a set of hypotheses should be set out at the end the literature review section. III. Data: A description of the data that includes data sources, variable measurements, descriptive statistics (including correlation matrix) and any irregularities with the data IV. Model specification: A presentation of model specification(s). If you estimate more than one specification, be sure to evaluate and explain which one is the preferred specification. V. Analysis: A careful analysis of the regression results that includes a.a discussion of any econometric problems including these identified by diagnostic tests you applied b. a discussion of hypotheses test results c. a discussion of estimated coefficients VI. Conclusion: A short summary of your findings and a brief discussion of the implication of your findings and/or suggestions for future research. VII. References: Harvard Referencing Style 1.2Assessment Timetable Coursework Submission Deadline: 3:00pm Friday, 22nd April, 2016 1.3Coursework Submission Coursework submission is electronic through Turnitin in Blackboard. Your coursework submission must be submitted by the specified deadline for this module: 3:00pm Friday, 22nd April, 2016. If you are in any doubt, please contact the Undergraduate office for clarification. To submit an assignment electronically via the module Blackboard site, open Blackboard and go to the relevant module site, then go to ‘Assessment’ → ‘Assignment Submission’. You should then see a link entitled: ‘View/Complete’. Click on this link. You will then be taken to a submission page. The First and Last name boxes are automatically filled. Check that your details are correct. In the submission title box provide the title for your submission. This should be the module title and your UB number e.g. ‘Econometrics 10001234’. Do not include your name in the title. Click the Browse menu item to upload your file. Please note that you can only upload one file so this must contain all parts of your assignment, including any appendices and supporting documents. Navigate to your file and click Open. Click Upload. Wait while your file is uploaded to the server (please note that there is a 10MB file size limit). The next page gives you the opportunity to review your submission. At this point you have not submitted and can return to the submission page to start again if you so wish. If you are happy that this is the correct paper and want to continue to submit, scroll to the bottom of the page and click Submit. Please note that if you are uploading from offsite it can take a long time (45 minutes plus at busy times) and you should allow sufficient time and ensure a suitably robust internet connection to ensure that this upload is effective. You will then be emailed a receipt to your university email address which will include your assignment identification reference. Your electronic submission will be used to check your assignment for plagiarism. You will be allowed to submit your assignment twice. On the first submission you will be able to access the Turnitin report for your submission. This will include details of any potential plagiarism (in the form of a similarity index) and you are strongly encouraged to review this prior to your final submission and ensure that your work is free of potential plagiarism. This is more than ensuring a low similarity index; it is about good referencing and citation practice and you should, through induction and subsequent access to advice and guidance, understand what plagiarism is and how to reference sources correctly. The Effective Learning Service at the School of Management and the Learner Development Unit at the University provide guidance and advice for students in this regard. If you are in any doubt about potential plagiarism you are strongly encouraged to access this support prior to finalizing your submission. Your second submission will be your final electronic submission and you are therefore strongly encouraged to ensure this is the final and best version of your assignment. When resubmitting, make sure that you fill in exactly the same submission data to ensure that your previous submission is overwritten. If you chose not to resubmit then your first electronic submission will count as your final submission. It is your responsibility to ensure that submission requirements are complied with fully and that all accurate identification information is submitted. Academic and Administrative staff will not try and match up missing information and if identification data is missing a mark will obviously not be recorded. For further information on how to submit your assignments using Turnitin go to the ‘How To’ section of Blackboard (Under ‘My Organizations’) and review the materials: ‘How to Submit an Assignment Electronically’. 1.4Standard Expected Diploma Grading Criteria – Stage 2 (Framework for Higher Education Level 5) 0-19 A substantial fail indicated by a substantial lack of knowledge and an inability to critically understand the well-established principles of their subject areas. A substantial failure to understand the way in which those principles have developed an ability to apply underlying concepts and principles outside the context in which they were first studied, including, where appropriate, the application of those principles in an employment context. A substantial lack of knowledge of the main methods of enquiry in the subject(s) relevant to the named award, and a substantial inability to evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems in the field of study. A substantial failure to appreciate the limits of their knowledge, and how this influences analyses and interpretations based on that knowledge. Unable to use a range of established techniques to initiate and undertake critical analysis of information, and to propose solutions to problems arising from that analysis. Unable to effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms to specialist and non-specialist audiences, and deploy key techniques of the discipline effectively. 20-39 A significant fail indicated by a significant lack of knowledge and an inability to critically understand the well-established principles of their subject areas. A significant failure to understand the way in which those principles have developed an ability to apply underlying concepts and principles outside the context in which they were first studied, including, where appropriate, the application of those principles in an employment context. A significant lack of knowledge of the main methods of enquiry in the subject(s) relevant to the named award, and a significant inability to evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems in the field of study. A significant failure to appreciate the limits of their knowledge, and how this influences analyses and interpretations based on that knowledge. A significant failure to use a range of established techniques to initiate and undertake critical analysis of information, and to propose solutions to problems arising from that analysis. A significant failure to effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms to specialist and non-specialist audiences, and deploy key techniques of the discipline effectively. 40-49 Achievement of the threshold level of attainment at level 2 indicated by a basic knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles associated with their subject area. A basic ability to critically understand the well-established principles of their subject areas. A basic ability to understand the way in which those principles have developed an ability to apply underlying concepts and principles outside the context in which they were first studied, including, where appropriate, the application of those principles in an employment context. A basic knowledge of the main methods of enquiry in the subject(s) relevant to the named award, and a basic ability to evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems in the field of study. A basic appreciation of the limits of their knowledge, and how this influences analyses and interpretations based on that knowledge. Unable to use a range of established techniques to initiate and undertake critical analysis of information, and to propose solutions to problems arising from that analysis. A basic ability to communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms to specialist and non-specialist audiences, and deploy key techniques of the discipline effectively. 50-59 Achievement above the of the threshold level of attainment at level 2 indicated by a satisfactory knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles associated with their subject area. A satisfactory ability to critically understand the well-established principles of their subject areas. A satisfactory ability to understand the way in which those principles have developed an ability to apply underlying concepts and principles outside the context in which they were first studied, including, where appropriate, the application of those principles in an employment context. A satisfactory knowledge of the main methods of enquiry in the subject(s) relevant to the named award, and a satisfactory ability to evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems in the field of study. A satisfactory appreciation of the limits of their knowledge, and how this influences analyses and interpretations based on that knowledge. Unable to use a range of established techniques to initiate and undertake critical analysis of information, and to propose solutions to problems arising from that analysis. A satisfactory ability to communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms to specialist and non-specialist audiences, and deploy key techniques of the discipline effectively. 60-69 Achievement well above the threshold level of attainment at level 2 indicated by a good knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles associated with their subject area. An ability to critically understand the well-established principles of their subject areas. A good ability to understand the way in which those principles have developed an ability to apply underlying concepts and principles outside the context in which they were first studied, including, where appropriate, the application of those principles in an employment context. A good knowledge of the main methods of enquiry in the subject(s) relevant to the named award, and a good ability to evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems in the field of study. A good appreciation of the limits of their knowledge, and how this influences analyses and interpretations based on that knowledge. Unable to use a range of established techniques to initiate and undertake critical analysis of information, and to propose solutions to problems arising from that analysis. A good ability to effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms to specialist and non-specialist audiences, and deploy key techniques of the discipline effectively. 70-84 Achievement substantially above the threshold level of attainment at level 2 indicated by a comprehensive knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles associated with their subject area. An excellent ability to critically understand the well-established principles of their subject areas. An excellent ability to understand the way in which those principles have developed an ability to apply underlying concepts and principles outside the context in which they were first studied, including, where appropriate, the application of those principles in an employment context. An excellent knowledge of the main methods of enquiry in the subject(s) relevant to the named award, and an excellent ability to evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems in the field of study. An excellent appreciation of the limits of their knowledge, and how this influences analyses and interpretations based on that knowledge. An excellent ability to use a range of established techniques to initiate and undertake critical analysis of information, and to propose solutions to problems arising from that analysis. An excellent ability to effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms to specialist and non-specialist audiences, and deploy key techniques of the discipline effectively. 85-100 Outstanding achievement above the threshold of level 2 indicated by a comprehensive knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles associated with their subject area. An outstanding ability to critically understand the well-established principles of their subject areas. An outstanding ability to understand the way in which those principles have developed an ability to apply underlying concepts and principles outside the context in which they were first studied, including, where appropriate, the application of those principles in an employment context. An outstanding knowledge of the main methods of enquiry in the subject(s) relevant to the named award, and an outstanding ability to evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems in the field of study. An outstanding appreciation of the limits of their knowledge, and how this influences analyses and interpretations based on that knowledge. An outstanding ability to use a range of established techniques to initiate and undertake critical analysis of information, and to propose solutions to problems arising from that analysis. An outstanding ability to effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms to specialist and non-specialist audiences, and deploy key techniques of the discipline effectively.