Research Methods in Accounting

Research in accounting is concerned with solving problems, investigating relationships and building a body of knowledge. With this in mind, Research Methods in Accounting will provide a clear and concise overview of the conduct of applied research studies in accounting. It provides the principal building blocks of how to implement research in accounting and related fields. Research Methods in Accounting provides students with: - an understanding of contemporary research ideas in accounting, so that readers can identify and define research problems and prepare strategies for their solution; - an awareness of alternative research methods, to facilitate the selection of the most appropriate method for addressing particular research questions; - an ability to review existing research and to offer critiques of articles published in refereed journals; - an appreciation of the ethical constraints on the conduct of accounting research. Research Methods in Accounting will be essential for students and academics in the fields of accounting and management.

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW / Theory as Testable Explanation / A Critical Approach to Accounting Research / PART TWO: DEVELOPING THE RESEARCH IDEA / The Structure of DNA: The Development of New Theory / The Bradman Problem: The Development of New Strategies / The Longitude Problem: Implementing Solutions / Strategic Management Accounting / The Research Sequence / Emergence of the Research Topic / Conceptual Frameworks / PART THREE: THEORY, LITERATURE AND HYPOTHESES / Sources of Theory / Searching the Literature / Modelling the Relationship / Developing the Hypotheses / Validity Concerns / PART FOUR: DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS / Sample Selection / Measurement Issues / Descriptive Statistics / Differences in Sample Means / Measures of Association / Analysis of Variance / Multivariate Model-Building / PART FIVE: ARCHIVAL RESEARCH / Cross-Section Data / Time-Series Data / The Validity Trade-Off in Archival Research / Content Analysis / Critical Analysis / PART SIX: EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH / The Problem Statement / Theory and Context / Experimental Design / The Validity Trade-Off / Quasi-Experimental Research / PART SEVEN: SURVEY RESEARCH / Mail Surveys / Design and Planning Issues / Pilot Testing / Data Collection / Measurement Error / Interview Methods / PART EIGHT: FIELDWORK / Case Study Methods / The Qualitative Analysis Protocol / Grounded Theory / Verbal Protocol Analysis / PART NINE: RESEARCH ETHICS IN ACCOUNTING / The Ethics Quiz / Informed Consent / Ethical Guidelines / PART TEN: SUPERVISION AND EXAMINATION PROCESSES / The Role of the Supervisor / Examiner Profiles / The Examination Process / PART ELEVEN: TURNING RESEARCH INTO PUBLICATIONS / Why Publish? / Where to Publish? / What to Publish? / How to Publish? / Concluding Remarks