Course Catalogue

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This course provides students with a knowledge and understanding of different theories which are used to inform research and policy. The course will enable students to appreciate the role of theoretically-informed research in advancing academic and policy debates, relating to financial reporting, accounting and the accounting profession. The course will provide students with a critical understanding of the different approaches to and components of research in the discipline of accounting.

One 2-hour workshop for 10 weeks.

Normally a grade D3 or above in Financial Accounting 2 or equivalent.

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1. Written assignment, including essay; Individual; 2000 words; 40%; ILOs 1-5.
2. Written assignment, including essay; Individual; 2500 words; 60%; ILOs 1-5.

The course aims to explain the role and contribution of theory in accounting research, an understanding of the research process and the role of theory in explaining policies, regulations and practices. In this regard, the course aims to provide students with a detailed understanding of a range of theories, and knowledge of different types of theory and the underpinning methodological assumptions. In exploring and explaining different theories, the course will help students to understand a variety of contemporary accounting, financial and business issues through a theoretical lens and evaluate the contribution of theory to our understanding of such phenomenon. These might include accounting regulation, financial reporting practices, disclosure policies, corporate governance regulations, the role of accounting information in decision making practices and the development of the accounting profession. The course will help students to understand how theories develop and will provide students with a critical overview of the different approaches to research in accounting.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Appraise a range of theoretical perspectives employed in accounting research and distinguish between the different methodological approaches to accounting research;

2. Explain and evaluate the appropriateness of a variety of theories that may help to explain phenomenon in accounting (such as accounting regulation, financial reporting practices, disclosure policies, corporate governance regulations, decision making practices, the development of the profession); 

3. Understand and critique the conceptual differences between normative and positive theories of accounting, inductive and deductive approaches and different epistemological and ontological assumptions underpinning research;

4. Organise and apply academic literature that utilises selected theoretical frameworks and methodologies to critically appraise contrasting opinions and to consider the value of research findings;

5. Search for, and locate, relevant literature in order to write an essay in which research papers are critically evaluated through using independent judgment in deciding the focus of analysis.