QUT offers a diverse range of student topics for Honours, Masters and PhD study. Search to find a topic that interests you or propose your own research topic to a prospective QUT supervisor. You may also ask a prospective supervisor to help you identify or refine a research topic.
Found 92 matching student topics
Displaying 13–24 of 92 results
Regulatory mode and the endowment effect
Consumers often demand a higher price for items they own, than what they would be willing to pay to buy the same item (Kahneman et al., 1990). This effect is commonly known as the endowment effect. While the endowment effect is well established (e.g. Bar-Hillel & Neter, 1996; Chan, 2015; Horowitz & Mcconnell, 2002), and some studies have attempted to explain it by considering the effects of psychological ownership (Kirk et al., 2015), there are still questions about when, for …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations
Risk management and financial systems integrity. Enhancing outcomes for indigenous not-for-profit organisations
This topic examines the NFP sector, in particular, indigenous organisations and the risk associated with incidents of fraud. As funding to these organisations is limited, a fraudulent event can have dire consequences on employees as well as impact future funding opportunities. Scant attention has been paid to the NFP sector in relation to fraud risk management. The study will help to address this.If you are interested in researching this topic as part of a Master of Philosophy (Accountancy), and you …
- Study level
- Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Accountancy
Compensation consultants: Whom do they serve? New evidence on pay for performance
It is common that companies routinely retain compensation consultants to provide guidance in setting executive pay packages. Most importantly, they offer recommendations about formulating appropriate compensation contracts for top management. Research shows that the size and structure of CEO compensation packages significantly affect firm performance (known as pay-for-performance) and, in particular, excessive CEO compensation is associated with the destruction of shareholder wealth. It is, therefore, interesting to investigate whether the use of compensation consultants actually benefits shareholders (e.g. improve firm …
- Study level
- Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Accountancy
The effect of information representation on the success of crowdfunding campaigns
Crowdfunding provides a unique opportunity to acquire financial resources online and is often used by entrepreneurs aiming to finance a project or a venture by parties. These investors make their funding decision based on the crowdfunding campaign entailing a textual description and a video pitch. This research seeks to determine which financial information should be included in the campaign, how this information should be presented, and how it affects the judgment and decision making of the potential investors. Detailed insights …
- Study level
- Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Accountancy
An insight view on board faultlines: company secretaries' perception of board faultlines, their effect on board performance and strategies to increase board cohesiveness
According to faultline theory, imposing board diversity criteria on corporate board can split the board into subgroups, which negatively impact on board performance by reducing effective communication between directors, instigating frictions and negative group dynamics. The role of the company secretary has been found to be pivotal in managing information blows and brokering meaningful relationships between board members. Company secretaries are therefore in a key position to provide insights into what can potentially cause frictions on boards and offer guidance …
- Study level
- Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Accountancy
Philanthropy and accountability in Australia
Philanthropy (defined here as structured giving through organisations such as foundations) is growing strongly and expected to benefit significantly from the intergenerational transfer of wealth in the coming decades. The accountability of philanthropy is a vital discussion, as criticism grows internationally of the lack of transparency, particularly for wealthy philanthropists who use their retained influence over donated and taxpayer-subsided funds to pursue their individual interests and influence public policy. There are current calls for a national blueprint or strategy for …
- Study level
- Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Accountancy
- Research centre(s)
-
Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies
Can executive compensation improve investment efficiency?
Since the last decade, there have been intense debates over whether executive compensation contracts are set optimally for interest alignment between management and shareholders. As Jensen and Murphy (2010) noted, the real problem of compensation is 'not how much you pay, but how'. While there is an agreement that performance-based pay can influence corporate investment decisions, the evidence is less clear on how and to what extent such a link is established. The real interest of this study is to …
- Study level
- Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Accountancy
The gender profile of the insolvency profession
Given the advances in representation by women in business leadership and accountancy profession generally, is it inevitable that there remain 'gendered occupational niches'?This project investigates the nature of professional work undertaken by insolvency practitioners and profiles the state of the profession to examine whether there are any isolating influences or barriers to entry for one gender or the other. It will identify the key determinants to effective performance to the role of insolvency practitioner and whether any systemic biases become …
- Study level
- Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Accountancy
Culture and corruption risks in local government: the role of technology in detecting fraud
A recent investigation by the Crime and Misconduct Commission found serious fraud and corruption across a number of Queensland city councils. This included inappropriate relationships between the Council and the private sector, in particular property developers and improper use of power and influence for personal benefit by elected councilors.This project investigates how council employees and councillors avoid detection under existing accounting controls, and how they can be strengthened. We will focus on the latest technologies for detecting financial misconduct and …
- Study level
- Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Accountancy
Place-based giving and philanthropy
Effective models of place-based funding remain conceptually unresolved. Place-based, collective impact initiatives are increasingly recognised for creating long-term systems change, yet the role of philanthropy in supporting, advocating for and catalysing change is underexplored.I am interested in supervising research into conceptual models of philanthropic funding for place-based initiatives, to explain and clarify the elements and characteristics of successful, long-term relationships between philanthropic funders and place-based, community-led initiatives in regional and urban Australian communities.
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Accountancy
- Research centre(s)
-
Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies
International entrepreneurship
How do entrepreneurs grow their new ventures across borders? What role do key individuals or teams of entrepreneurs and their collective experiences, skills, relational capabilities and identities play in new venture success? How do entrepreneurs identify and leverage external enablers to enhance new venture legitimacy and propel rapid internationalisation? Are these external enablers ‘out there’ waiting to be harnessed, or can entrepreneurs shape their external environment through, for example, ‘institutional entrepreneurship’? International Entrepreneurship is an area with many unanswered and …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations
- Research centre(s)
-
Australian Centre for Entrepreneurship Research
Understanding authenticity seeking in the purchase of indigenous art and souvenirs
There is a growing and substantial body of knowledge concerning tourists' perception of authenticity for indigenous art and souvenirs. Such products have significant impact on local economies.For tourists and visitors, indigenous art and souvenirs are mementos of their travel experiences and help tourists appreciate cross-cultural differences. However, more and more, these products are becoming mass-produced objects where the satisfaction of tourists and the profit motives of retailers are given priority. From the demand side, there are many motives for souvenir …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations
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