Overview

This unit aims to broaden student's critical thinking skills with respect to ethical decision-making and professional conduct within the finance industry. Students will learn to apply both local and global ethical codes and professional standards to manage and convey complex financial information with intellectual independence. Students will conduct and develop a qualitative research project on issues relevant to the financial industry. This unit also introduces behavioural finance concepts and theories, enables students to tailor advice to the needs of clients.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Critically evaluate systemic sources of unprofessional behaviour, and propose innovative solutions
  • Critically analyse behavioural biases and provide advice to improve investment decision making
  • Develop proficient communication skills and effective application of ethical conduct and professional accountability in diverse contexts
  • Critically reflect on cognitive and behavioural patterns in financial decision making within diverse contexts, and provide innovative ethical solutions
  • Apply advanced and coherent knowledge of qualitative research methods to independently plan and execute an evidence-based project.

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class		 2.00  12 weeks  24
Online
Lecture (asynchronous)		 1.00  12 weeks  12
Unspecified Activities 
Independent Learning		 9.50  12 weeks  114
TOTAL     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssignmentIndividual 50 - 70% 1,2,3,4,5 
ExaminationIndividual 30 - 50% 1,2,3,4 

Content

  • Ethical decision making frameworks
  • Paradigm of the Ethics Regime
  • Facets of professional code of conduct
  • Structure and application of local and global professional standards
  • Behavioural finance context and biases
  • Behavioural finance and decision making scenarios
  • Research methodologies
  • Conducting Qualitative Research
  • Financial Field Research Techniques
  • Analysis of Qualitative Data
  • Writing a Qualitative Research Report

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.