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 106 matching student topics
Displaying 49–60 of 106 results
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
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)
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Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies
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
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
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
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
Travellers' perceptions of short break holiday destinations
Brisbane residents are spoiled by choice of short break holiday destinations within a comfortable drive. This topic offers participation in an ongoing project monitoring perceptions held by Brisbane residents (since 2003) of the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Northern NSW, Fraser Coast and Bundaberg North Burnett. For each of these destinations, the Brisbane market represents the largest source of visitors, and understanding consumer perceptions represents important marketing research for the destination marketing orgnisations.
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations
Corporate social and environmental performance information and related accountability practices
Due to stakeholder attention, companies are increasingly disclosing social and environmental performance information within their annual and corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports.OutcomesThis study will investigate whether these disclosures reflect real performance, and thereby create accountability practices by corporations. Both Australian and international companies are the focus of this project.The project considers both qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Study level
- Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Accountancy
Exploring organisational culture and employee change attitudes in nonprofit human service organisations.
- Study level
- PhD
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Management
Nudging better financial habits in young adults through digital cues
In the context of a growing cost of living crisis, many young adults are experiencing financial stress while navigating key life transitions such as starting university, moving out of home, or entering the workforce. These transitional periods present valuable but often missed opportunities to engage young people with tools and strategies that build long-term financial capability. Behaviourally-informed digital interventions - such as timely nudges and relatable role model messages - may help support better financial habits and confidence during these …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Accountancy
Improving safety behaviours for respirable crystalline silica in construction work
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a major health and safety concern, particularly in construction work processes. This project is aimed at understanding employer compliance implications and employee risk perceptions, attitudes, and safety behaviours towards the control measures used in workplaces to help minimise risk related to RCS. The overall intention of the project is to help ensure effective compliance is maintained when managing RCS in the workplace and to prevent silicosis in workers.
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Management
Understanding psychosocial factors for addressing mental health concerns in the construction industry
Construction workers are at an increased risk of suicide and experience higher rates of poor psychological health. This research investigates the many psychosocial factors that can contribute to worker psychological (and general) wellbeing. This includes social support, social capital, personal networks, work-related conditions, and work-life-balance. Managing the psychosocial wellbeing of workers is as critical to addressing physical risks associated with construction work.
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Management
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