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Behavioral Research in Auditing 2012 AAA Auditing Doctoral Consortium

Behavioral Research in Auditing 2012 AAA Auditing Doctoral Consortium. E. Michael Bamber J.M. Tull School of Accounting The University of Georgia. Outline. Perspective: 1999 vs. 2011 Publishing BAuR Sources of research questions Examples Methodology issues. Publishing Trends - Numbers.

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Behavioral Research in Auditing 2012 AAA Auditing Doctoral Consortium

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  1. Behavioral Research in Auditing2012 AAA Auditing Doctoral Consortium E. Michael Bamber J.M. Tull School of Accounting The University of Georgia

  2. Outline • Perspective: 1999 vs. 2011 • Publishing BAuR • Sources of research questions • Examples • Methodology issues

  3. Publishing Trends - Numbers

  4. Publishing Trends - Numbers

  5. Publishing Trends - Numbers

  6. Publishing Trends - Numbers

  7. Publishing Trends - Topics

  8. Publishing Trends - Topics

  9. Publishing Trends - Topics

  10. Publishing Trends - Topics

  11. Publishing Trends - Topics

  12. Publishing Trends - Topics

  13. Publishing Trends - Topics

  14. Publishing Trends - Topics

  15. Publishing Trends - Topics

  16. Publishing Trends – TAR 2011 • “The Effect of Using the Internal Audit Function as a Management Training Ground on the External Auditor’s Reliance Decisions,” W. F. Messier, Jr., J. K. Reynolds, C. A. Simon, and D. A. Wood (November 2011) • “Risk-Based Auditing, Strategic Prompts, and Auditor Sensitivity to the Strategic Risk of Fraud,” K. Bowlin (July 2011) • “How a Systems Perspective Improves Knowledge Acquisition and Performance in Analytical Procedures,” B. E. Brewster (May 2011)

  17. A Publishable Paper Provides Insights That Are: • New – Cause belief revision • Interesting – Belief revision is consequential • True • Clear

  18. Deciding on a Topic • Prior literature • Innovations in practice • Psychology theory

  19. Prior Literature • Critically evaluate prior research (Sources: SSRN, Web of Science, AAA and conference websites) • What is the question? • What is the research method? • What is the punchline? • Critique. • What would we still like to know?

  20. Prior Literature • Build a framework • How do the prior papers fit together? • Distill stylized facts: What do we think we know? • Identify research opportunities: What would we like to know? • Rely on others • Existing literature reviews and frameworks • Calls for research

  21. Prior Literature - Examples • Nelson, M. 2009. A model and literature review of professional skepticism in auditing. Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory 28(2): 1-34. • Framework for classifying failures in professional skepticism (PS): More important antecedents? • Definition of PS: Presumptive doubt? • Influence of traits and incentives? • “Justifiable inefficiencies” • Incentives to avoid? Interventions to highlight and reward?

  22. Prior Literature - Examples • Hammersley, J. S. 2011. A Review and Model of Auditor Judgments in Fraud-Related Planning Tasks. Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory 30(4): 102-128 • Fraud knowledge obtained primarily from training rather than experience • Antecedents to effectively perform fraud related tasks? • Conditions under which auditors do/do not respond to risk?

  23. Prior Literature – Calls for Research • AJPT Special Calls (The Auditor’s Report Fall 2011) • Conservatism in auditing • Research on environmental assurance and auditing • Qualitative studies in auditing • Audit market structure, competition, and audit quality

  24. Innovations in Practice • Carefully read and analyze the practice literature (Sources: AICPA, PCAOB, SEC, Accounting firms) • One-on-one communications • Distill state of practice: Where would the profession like to be? • Identify research opportunities: Improve practice? • E.g., Carpenter, T. 2007. Audit team brainstorming, fraud risk identification, and fraud risk assessment: Implications of SAS No. 99. The Accounting Review 82 (5): 1119-1140. • Messier, W.F., T.M. Kozloski, and N. Kochetova-Kozloski. 2010. An analysis of SEC and PCAOB enforcement actions against engagement quality reviewers. Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory 29(2): 232-252.

  25. Innovations in Practice - Examples • PCAOB Standards • New • Risk Assessment Standards AS Nos. 8-15 • Proposed • Communications with Audit Committees (Comment period open) • Future • The Auditors’ Reporting Model (Issue proposed standard in 2012) • Auditor Independence, Objectivity, and Professional Skepticism (2012 Agenda)

  26. Innovations in Practice - Examples • PCAOB Inspection Reports • Report on Observations of PCAOB Inspectors Related to Audit Risk Areas Affected by the Economic Crisis (Sept. 2010) • Fair value assumptions – failure to test beyond inquiry of management • Fair values – failure to reconcile inconsistencies between management and third party estimates • Revenue recognition - failure to respond to specific risks, including risk of fraud

  27. Innovations in Practice • Approach: • Why/What? • Process • Antecedents and Outcomes • Interventions

  28. Psych Theory • Coursework, esp. non-accounting • Read the literature, esp. literature reviews and seminal papers • Citation searches for most recent work • Examples • Wilks, T. J. 2002. Predecisional distortion of evidence as a consequence of real-time audit review. The Accounting Review 77(1):51-72 • Organizational Identity Theory, Small Group Theory, Social Identity Theory, Construal Level Theory

  29. Developing the Topic • Goal: a publishable paper • Consequential belief revision in behavioral auditing will likely require integration of all three: • Prior auditing literature – New – moving literature forward • Practice – Interesting – others care about the topic • Theory – New and Interesting – results are generalizable/consequential

  30. Methodology – True • “The Effect of Using the Internal Audit Function as a Management Training Ground on the External Auditor’s Reliance Decisions” • Archival analysis and behavioral experiment • 1 X 3 Design • Norwegian auditors • “Risk-Based Auditing, Strategic Prompts, and Auditor Sensitivity to the Strategic Risk of Fraud” • Audit game based on experimental economics • 2 X 2 X 2 mixed design • Students • “How a Systems Perspective Improves Knowledge Acquisition and Performance in Analytical Procedures” • Several techniques to develop participants’ mental models • 2 X 2 between-subject design • Students

  31. Methodology – True • Straightforward designs • 1X3, 2X2X2, 2X2 • Facilitates interpretation of results and internal and external validity • Randomization vs. control • Messier et al. 8 control variables in unexpected audit fee model vs. 1X3 experiment • Something novel • Messier et al. – archival and experimental components • Bowlin – experimental economics game • Brewster – develop mental models

  32. Methodology – True • Participants • The big issue, cycles • Local vs. national • Students • Experimental economics game – accepted • Justification in other experiments: • Lynch, A. L., U. S. Murthy, and T. J. Engle. 2009. Fraud brainstorming using computer-mediated communication: The effects of brainstorming technique and facilitation. The Accounting Review 84(4): 1209-1232 • Brewster, B. E. 2011. “How a Systems Perspective Improves Knowledge Acquisition and Performance in Analytical Procedures,” B. E. Brewster. The Accounting Review 86(3): 915-943

  33. Conclusion • Publishable topics? • Yes, more than ever (SOX, PCAOB standards agenda & inspection reports) • Journal interest? • Yes, in select journals (TAR, AJPT, CAR, AOS) • Top tier • Publishable paper? • New, interesting, true, and clear • Importance of topic selection process

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