COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: RESEARCH AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN FINANCE

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
FINT 401	A	1	2	0	2	3	7.5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	Dr. Arjona Lami acela@epoka.edu.al
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Dr. Arjona Lami acela@epoka.edu.al , Monday 10:00-12:00
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Master of Science in FinTech
Classroom and Meeting Time:	Wedneday 18:00
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:	60%
Course Description:	-
Course Objectives:	At the end of the semester, students will be able to read and analyze published research studies in business, prepare written proposals for their research topics, and devise and conduct research studies for their theses and projects.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	Research Topic: is a subject or issue that a researcher is interested in when conducting research. A well-defined research topic is the starting point of every successful research project. Choosing a topic is an ongoing process by which researchers explore, define, and refine their ideas.
2	Research Question: Pinpoints exactly what you want to find out in your work. A good research question is essential to guide your research paper, dissertation, or thesis. All research questions should be: 1- Focused on a single problem or issue. 2- Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources. 2 - Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints. 3 - Specific enough to answer thoroughly. 4 - Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis. 5 - Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly.
3	Hypothesis: An idea or explanation for something that is based on known facts but has not yet been proved.
4	Research Hypothesis: (Also called as scientific hypothesis) is a statement about the expected outcome of a study (for example, a dissertation or thesis). To constitute a quality hypothesis, the statement needs to have three attributes: 1– specificity, 2- clarity and 3- testability.
5	Literature Review: A literature review is a piece of academic writing demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the academic literature on a specific topic placed in context. A literature review also includes a critical evaluation of the material; this is why it is called a literature review rather than a literature report. It is a process of reviewing the literature, as well as a form of writing.
6	Primary Data: Is data that is collected by a researcher from first-hand sources, using methods like: Surveys and censuses or interviews.
7	Secondary Data: Is the data that has already been collected through primary sources and made readily available for researchers to use for their own research.
8	Methodology: Research methodology is defined as the systematic method to resolve a research problem through data gathering using various techniques, providing an interpretation of data gathered and drawing conclusions about the research data.
9	Methodology vs. Methods: Methods are “practical procedures used to generate and analyze data (Birks and Mills, 2011, p. 4) while Methodology “is the underlying theory and analysis of how a research is done or should proceed” (Kirsch & Sullivan, 1992, p. 2).
10	Empirical Analysis: is a type of research dedicated to the discovery of concrete, verifiable evidence. Guided by the scientific method, empirical analysis allows researchers to remove personal bias and instead use concrete, accurate and repeatable real-world evidence to draw conclusions. The empirical evidence is a central part of the scientific method, leading to the proving or disproving of a hypothesis.

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction to the Course
2	Chapter 1: Business and management research, reflective diaries and the purpose of this book. This book is designed to help you to undertake a research project whether you are an undergraduate or postgraduate students. It is designed as an introductory textbook and to support you through the entire research process. Pg(2-25)
3	Chapter 2: Formulating and clarifying tnhe research topic. Characteristics of a good research topic include appropriateness, capability and fulfilment. However, the most important is that it will meet the requirements of the examining body. Generating and refining research ideas makes use of a variety of techniques. It is important that you use a variety of techniques, including those involving rational thinking and those involving creative thinking. Pg(26-71)
4	Chapter 4: Understanding research philosophies and approaches to theory development. The term ‘research philosophies’ refers to systems of beliefs and assumptions about the development of knowledge. This means that your research philosophy contains important assumptions about the way in which you view the world. These assumptions shape all aspects of your research projects. Pg(128-161)
5	Chapter 3: Critically reviewing the literature. Critically reviewing the literature is necessary to help you to develop a thorough understanding of, and insight into, previous work that relates to your research question(s) and objectives.Pg(72-127).Importance of Literature Review in Circular Economy Research. Critical Assessment of Circular Economy Literature.
6	Chapter 5: Formulating the research design. Research design is the way a research question and objectives are operationalised into a research project. The research design process involves a series of decisions that need to combine into a coherent research project. Pg(161-220)
7	Chapter 6: Negotiating access and research ethics. Access and ethics are critical aspects for the conduct of research.Different types of access exist: traditional access, Internet-mediated access, intranet-mediated access and hybrid access. Pg(232-290)
8	Midterm Exam
9	Chapter 7: Selecting samples; Chapter 8: Using secondary data. Your choice of sampling techniques is dependent on the feasibility and sensibility of collecting data to answer your research question(s) and to address your objectives from the target population. When using probability sampling it is usually more sensible to collect data from the entire population where the target population is 50 or fewer.Pg(292-377)
10	Chapter 9: Collecting primary data through observation; Chapter 10: Collecting primary data using semi-structured, in-depth and group interviews. The use of semi-structured and in-depth interviews allows you to collect rich and detailed data, although you will need to develop a sufficient level of competence to conduct these and to be able to gain access to the type of data associated with their use. Pg(378-501)
11	Chapter 11: Collecting primary data using questionnaires; Chapter 12: Analyzing quantitative data. Questionnaires collect data by asking people to respond to exactly the same set of questions. They are often used as part of a survey strategy to collect descriptive and explanatory data about facts/demographics, attitudes/opinions and behaviours/events. Data collected are normally analysed quantitatively.Pg(502-563)
12	Chapter 12: Analyzing quantitatively data. For data to be analysed quantitatively it must either already be quantified or able to be transformed into quantitative data.Pg(564-635)
13	Project presentation
14	Projec presentation

Prerequisite(s):	NA
Textbook(s):	Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2019). Research Methods for Business Students. 7th Ed. Prentice Hall, New York, USA. Cameron, A. C., & Trivedi, P. K. (2010). Microeconometrics using stata (Vol. 2). College Station, TX: Stata press.
Additional Literature:
Laboratory Work:	Data analysis Program
Computer Usage:	Yes
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Comprehend scientific research methodology concepts for business research
2	Prepare a research proposal for a business research problem
3	Read and critically discuss research papers in business

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Master of Science in FinTech Program
1	Graduates will master the fundamentals of fintech, including technological innovations, digital financial services, and disruptive business models, and apply this knowledge to create fintech solutions.	5
2	Graduates will be proficient in blockchain technologies and cryptocurrency, understanding their applications in finance, such as digital currencies, smart contracts, and decentralized finance (DeFi) systems.	4
3	Graduates will gain expertise in digital banking and innovation, including the ability to design and manage digital banking solutions, improving customer experience and operational efficiency.	4
4	Graduates will demonstrate a deep understanding of corporate finance principles, enabling them to analyze complex financial scenarios and make informed strategic decisions.	2
5	Graduates will have the skills to thoroughly analyze financial statements and assess the financial health and performance of organizations, aiding in investment and decision-making processes.	3
6	Graduates will acquire advanced skills in big data analytics, enabling them to extract valuable insights from large datasets to drive data-driven financial strategies and decisions.	5
7	Graduates will apply machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to analyze financial data, automate decision-making processes, and enhance risk management in the financial sector.	3
8	Graduates will gain knowledge in cybersecurity resilience, enabling them to understand cyber threats in financial systems and data and effectively cooperate in mitigating fraud risks in fintech operations.	4
9	Graduates will develop a strong ethical foundation and be equipped to navigate corporate social responsibility and sustainability challenges in the fintech industry, promoting responsible and sustainable financial practices.	4
10	Graduates will be capable of applying interdisciplinary knowledge to address complex challenges at the intersection of finance and technology, fostering innovation and adaptability in a rapidly evolving fintech landscape.	4

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Midterm Exam(s)	1	30
Project	1	30
Final Exam	1	30
Other	1	10
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	3	48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	26	2.5	65
Mid-terms	1	23	23
Assignments	1	22.5	22.5
Final examination	1	29	29
Other			0
Total Work Load:			187.5
Total Work Load/25(h):			7.5
ECTS Credit of the Course:			7.5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER

Na