Question

Pitching this article for the table like this

Full reference details
Research question
Research question
Motivation/puzzle
Idea?
Data?
Tools?
What’s new?
So what?
Contribution
Key findings

Answer 1

Pitching Research is a template tool, developed by Professor Robert Faff from the UQ Business School, designed to help exchange ideas between novice researchers and their academic advisors. It is a great resource to be used across a wide range of research areas and for diverse levels of research training and mastery.

Research Question - In one sentence, define the key features of the research question.

Motivation/puzzle - In one short paragraph capture the core academic motivation which may include identifying a “puzzle” that you hope to resolve.

Idea - Identify the “core” idea that drives the intellectual content of this research topic. If possible, articulate the central hypothesis. Identify the key dependent (“explained”) variable and the key test/independent (“explanatory”) variable. Is there any serious threat from endogeneity here? If so, what is the identification strategy? Is there a natural experiment or exogenous shock that can be exploited? Is there any theoretical “tension” that can be exploited?

Data -1.What data do you propose to use? e.g. country/setting; Why? Unit of analysis? Individuals, firms, portfolios, industries, countries? sample period; sampling interval? Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual, Type of data: firm specific vs. industry vs. macro?

2.What sample size do you expect? Cross-sectionally? In Time-series/longitudinal?

3.s it a panel dataset?

4.Data Sources? Are the data commercially available? Any hand-collecting required? Are the data to be created based on your own survey instrument? Or by interviews? Timeframe? Research assistance needed? Funding/grants? Are they novel new data?

5.Will there be any problem with missing data/observations? Database merge issues? Data manipulation/”cleansing” issues?

6.Will your “test” variables exhibit adequate (“meaningful”) variation to give good power? Quality/reliability of data?

7.Other data obstacles? E.g. external validity? construct validity?

Tools - Basic empirical framework and research design? Is it a regression model approach? Survey instrument issues/design? Interview design? Econometric software needed/appropriate for job? Accessible through normal channels? Knowledge of implementation of appropriate or best statistical/econometric tests? Compatibility of data with planned empirical framework? Is statistical validity an issue?

Whats new - Is the novelty in the idea/data/tools? Which is the “driver”, and are the “passengers” likely to pull their weight? Is this “Mickey Mouse” [i.e. can you draw a simple Venn diagram to depict the novelty in your proposal?]

So what - Why is it important to know the answer? How will major decisions/behaviour/activity etc be influenced by the outcome of this research?

Contribution - What is the primary source of the contribution to the relevant research literature?

Key findings - Identify the key findings which most critically underpin the topic (just standard reference details). Ideally one paper, but at most 3 papers. Ideally, by “gurus” in the field, either recently published in Tier 1 journal(s) or recent working paper e.g. on SSRN.