BANK3011 Final Report
Tips:
• Assignment时间分配:
30%整理文献 + 30%Literature review + 20%Introduction + 20%Hypothesis+Methodology/Abstract
• 花 1-2天分门别类整理文献（哪些文献支持正面观点，哪些文献支持反面观点，哪些文献和我们
要做的研究比较相似），花 1-2天写 Literature review, 花 1-2天写 Introduction, 花 1天写其他，花
1天修改。保证每天按计划写够字数。
Word count: 2,000 words (references excl.)
Structure:
• Title
• Abstract (80-150 words)
• Introduction (500-600 words)
• Literature Review (800-1000 words)
• Hypothesis (100-200 words) + Methodology (300-400 words)
References: Havard Referencing http://libguides.library.usyd.edu.au/content.php?pid=160012&sid=1510179
建议写作顺序:
1. 阅读文献，确定要研究的问题并列出问题框架 (progressing report的目的)
2. 围绕要研究的问题写 literature review， 在 literature review过程中进一步明确自己的 contribution(我
们要写的 research 和现在的文献已有的 research 有哪些 gap，我们将解决哪些之前没有解决的问
题) à paraphrase progressing report的内容
Literature review的目的是 (i)综述和对比已有的文献(previous studies)对中心话题的研究(相关性&
突出重点), (ii)根据已有的文献，理清逻辑线，支持 Hypothesis 部分的写作；(iii)找出已有的文献
的 gap，突出这篇 proposal的 contribution。
3. 根据 step1 的问题框架和 step2 明确的 gap/contribution 来写 introduction.相比于 literature
review,introduction 部分的开篇可以相对更浅显、学术性更低，比如引用用一两句话 news/社会事
件作为开篇引入背景话题，也可以重复 literature review部分写过的文献，但要注意 paraphrase。
Introduction 的目的是(i)介绍研究的背景&引出我们做研究的 motivation（在学界/业界有什么价值
&重要性）(ii)陈列研究想解决的问题和期待发现的研究结果（ iii）明确我们的研究有哪些
contribution
4. 写 Hypothesis+Methodology
5. 最后写 Abstract，可以参考已发表的论文的 Abstract的形式
Title
研究 XXX对 YYY的影响:
可选标题:
1) The impact of XXX on YYY
2) XXX on YYY: Evidence from … (e.g. Australian market, microfinance institutions)
3) 关键词: How does XXX affect YYY in the MMM market?
NB. 关键词可以是 XXX 对 YYY 产生影响的机制(channel)。比如 foreign ownership 通过影响
concentration stability, 进一步影响了 banking sector的 credit risk, 所以题目可以是 Ownership and
stability: How does foreign ownership affect bank credit risk in the Australian market?
Xà Z à Y:
X AND Z: HOW DOES X AFFECT Y?
Channel:
Main hypothesis: Xà Y
Literature review: XàZ, ZàY
Sub-hypothesis: XàZ
4) The effect of XXX on YYY: global evidence
……
Abstract (80-150 words)
需要包含的信息点：
必写：
1) 信息 1 - 总括：这篇 proposal研究了 XXX对 YYY的影响。(比如在什么市场里，应用于什么时间
框架，分析了什么数据)
e.g.1. The paper/proposal/report//research/study investigates/explores/examines the effect of XXX on
YYY by analyzing … (data) during …. (timeline)
2) 信息 2 - 预设的 XXX影响 YYY的因果关系(i.e. positive relationship/negative relationship) 以及这种
因果关系发生的原理/机制(channel):
e.g.1. This report/research proposes/hypothesizes a positive/negative relationship between XXX and
YYY, where …. (解释 XXX如何通过影响… 从而进一步影响 YYY)
e.g.2. The research aims to determine whether XXX can affect YYY through …
3) 信息 3 - Contribution: 这篇研究在之前研究的基础上做了什么补充/完善，对目前的学术研究有什
么贡献价值
e.g.1. The findings extend the previous literature as they inform …
e.g.2. To the best of my knowledge, this research is the first, in the MMM market/in the global context,
to explore the causal effect of XXX on YYY
选写: （取决于字数限制和 research topic）
1) 如果话题涉及的 XXX或者 YYY不是很常见，可以在开头用 1-2句话介绍一下定义/背景。
2) 如果应用了比较新颖的计量经济模型去处理数据，可以用 1句话介绍一下模型。
e.g.1.
“This paper examines the impact of geographic diversification on the social performance of Microfinance Institution’s
(MFIs).(一句话总括 proposal 的内容) Empirical findings from the banking industry have found the existence of a
positive relationship between geographic diversification and credit risk. This study extends the discussion on such
findings, examining the impact of increased geographic diversification from a risk return perspective by examining its
impact on the social outreach of MFIs. （通过对比之前的研究，论述这篇研究想涉及的话题的 contribution）To
do this, panel data consisting of a sample of 762 MFIs spanning from 1999-2019, collected from the Microfinance
Information Exchange (MIX), was utilised to carry out regression analysis. (用 xxx 数据/方法)The findings are
significant and will contribute to the literature as they inform MFI’s how the costs and benefits of geographic
diversification impact their ability to serve clients and achieve social objectives. (预期发现的的因果关系&强调
contribution)This will ultimately enhance their decision making when considering diversification.”
Reference: BANK3011_Writing sample1
e.g.2.
“The internet-based economy has challenged financial intermediation through rise of Peer-to- Peer lending.
Unlike commercial banks, lenders are not experts in evaluating credit risks, suffering information asymmetry,
and disadvantaged when facing the borrower.（介绍 background） This research proposal in P2P lending is
within the stream of literature which focuses on determining factors on credit risk. The research aims to
determine whether hard or soft information can serve as a predictor of non-performing loans and examines this
across markets.(proposal想研究的问题) Data is sourced from leading platforms, across 5-years, and use
relevant explanatory variables. “（数据来源）
Reference: BANK3011_Writing sample2
e.g.3.
“This paper investigates the effect of foreign ownership on the credit risk of Australian banks by analysing
bank-level panel data from 2000-2018. In line with the concentration-stability and global advantage
hypotheses, this report proposes a negative relationship between foreign ownership and bank risk, where a
higher level of foreign shareholdings enhances financial stability within Australia’s concentrated banking
sector. ”
Reference: BANK3011_Writing sample2
Main body
1. Introduction (500-600words)
Suggested structures:
Structure1: 综述式
Para1. 大环境/大背景（可结合业界+学界），介绍 XXX的定义和发展趋势，进一步引入 XXX和 YYY的关系
Para2. 你的研究问题(research question)是什么？研究动机(motivation)是什么？具体如何开展研究？（比如要研究
fintech对 credit risk的影响，那你如何定量地刻画 fintech的影响力该如何构建变量?）problem statement & research
questions
Para3. 这项研究的重要性：为什么你要研究这个问题而不是另一个？你和之前其他人的研究有什么不同(gap)，你
的 contribution是什么？
Structure2: 小标题式
1.1. Backgrounds
结合业界/学界，综述关于 XXX研究的发展趋势
• 如果相关话题涉及重要的社会新闻 /业界案例，可以开头用一两句话简述案例。但注意
proposal是 academic writing, 业界案例篇幅不宜过大。
• 当下的主流研究有哪些（和 YYY有关联的）【此处略写，只写高质量/最核心 journal的论据，
在 Literature review部分详写】
• 关于主流研究，目前存在哪些 gap，进一步引入你想研究的话题【此处略写，只写高质量/最
核心 journal的论据，在 Literature review部分详写】
1.2. Motivations
• 1-2句话：针对目前 literature没有解决的问题/gap，你对 XXX 感兴趣。
e.g. in lightening of the rising attention of …, policy makers and stakeholders are interested in:
“…”
Research Question(s)
• 可以采用问句形式
e.g. “This proposed thesis focuses on …. So what …? How …? To what extent …?”
1.3.Contributions
强调前文 Introduction里的 research gap, 这篇 paper 能如何缩减这些 gap。
句式：
This study contributes to the literature in at least … ways.
First, we add to a growing literature that …. Prior research finds that …However, it simply focuses on ….
We extent this research by …. We reconcile the mixed findings
2. Literature review (800-1000 words)
包含的信息点：
• 关于 XXX和 YYY 领域广泛的研究
• 目前的 literature有哪些 gaps, 你的研究如何弥补这些 gaps (侧重 contribution)
• 基于之前哪些研究，让你提出了 hypothesis (侧重 hypothesis development)
Suggested structures:
Structure1: 综述式
Para1: 综述研究背景，论述研究的重要性/争议性。
重要性话题句式：
要表达的思想：“现在已有了 xxx 研究（说明前人的研究概况，但在 xxx方面的研究仍是不明确的“
A series of research studies by XXX, XXX, and XXX, examine one important dimension of …, namely, ….They document
positive/negative relations between … and …. However, it remains unclear exactly how/through which channels XXX
affects YYY.
争议性话题句式:
句式 1: The effect of XXX on … is highly debated due to different perceptions about … One view is that …, a contrasting
view of …. is that …
句式 2: As discussed by … (2012), prior literature typically captures …. In contrast to the findings in … studies, recent
studies (XXX, 2020) show a positive/negative relationship between … and … However, … issue is inherently difficult to
tackle since …. This research complements these studies by using … (research design/data)
Para2. 目前的研究有哪些 gap，这项研究如何弥补这些 gap (contribution)
This research is closest in spirit to that of XXX (2020), but markedly different in terms of …. This study contributes to the
literature in at least …(how many) ways.
First, we add to a growing literature that …. Prior research finds that …, however, it simply focuses on …. We extend this
research by analyzing …. We reconcile the mixed findings in prior studies and identify that …
Second, our paper contributes to a large body of literature by examining …. /this study extends the line of research,
investigating…. /this paper adds to this pool of knowledge by examining the effect of
XXX hypothesize that …, though they do not provide direct evidence to support their conjectures. In this study, I will
directly examine the impact of XXX on YYY
Para3. 基于之前的哪些研究，你的研究提出了 hypothesis(承接之后的 hypothesis testing)
In line with XXX (2020), I hypothesize that …
Structure2: 小标题式
2.1.Institutional Background
2.2. Effect of XXX on MMM
Note: MMM can be the channel through which XXX imposes effect on YYY
2.3. MMM in YYY
3. Hypothesis (100-200 words)
[承接上文] As mentioned above, this research suggests that … leads to …
Based on previous findings, it is hypothesized that …
先用 4-5句话复述 literature review部分的论点逻辑，然后提出假设：
e.g.
H1: XXX has a positive/negative impact on YYY in MMM market
如果有不止一个 hypothesis,可以写 sub-hypothesis:
e.g. 比如对于某种特定类型的金融机构，这种 casual effect is more pronounced,
H2a: the positive effects of XXX on YYY is more pronounced for/in …
e.g. 比如做 channel tests, XXX 通过影响 ZZZ，进一步影响了 YYY （note: previous literature 已经论证了 YYY会
影响 ZZZ, 所以我们只需要 test XXX会影响 ZZZ）
H2b: XXX has a positive/negative impact on ZZZ in MMM market
4. Methodology (300 – 400 words)
• Include the regression model
You can either write the full model:
Or you can write the regression with x and y, and explain variables with descriptions. Include definition
of variables, specify main variables and refer control variables from similar papers
• Include data source, time horizon of the data.
Bonus: include specific database(可以找一篇 previous research, 参考它的 data/methodology, 仿照和它
相同的数据源).
e.g. This report will use MMM market bank-level panel data between 2008 and 2016
• Provide the rationale why you choose the data (from previous results) e.g. based on xxx(20xx), a 5-year
time frame is applied, the time frame which keeps macroeconomic factors relatively stable.
References