REG523 Behavioral and Archival Auditing Research

• Topics

  This course investigates behavioral and archival research that has been performed in the accounting field. The emphasis is on behavioral decision theory and economics based theories with applications to the auditing function. A number of topics are considered.

  The goals of this course are to 1) discuss concepts and models, 2) develop skills in analyzing and critiquing research design, and 3) develop an understanding of the literature in key current topical areas. Articles are selected to achieve all of these goals. We will also spend significant time discussing practical matters of the publication process, such as idea development as well as the editorial process.

• Learning outcome

  After completing this course, the student will be able to:

  Knowledge

  • Develop theory-based hypotheses applicable to archival and experimental research.
  • Design archival studies and experiments to test hypotheses.
  • Critique and digest archival and experimental research.

  Skills

  • Apply practical skills for efficiently and effectively writing research manuscripts.

• Teaching

  The class will be run in a seminar format partly in persons and partly on Zoom, comprised totally of class presentations and discussion.

• Restricted access

  There will be a limitation of the number of participants. Priority will be given to PhD students at NHH or PhD students within the field of auditing. Promising master's students at NHH may be admitted after application, but are subject to the approval from the course responsible on a case by case basis.

  Maximum number of participants: 8

• Recommended prerequisites

  Good knowledge of Shadish, Cook & Campbell (2002): Cook, T. D., Campbell, D. T., & Shadish, W. (2002). Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for generalized causal inference. Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

  Kinney, W. R., Jr. (2019). The Kinney Three Paragraphs (and More) for Accounting Ph.D. Students. Accounting Horizons 33(4), 1-14.

• Compulsory Activity

  In addition to the readings, you will be required to write a more detailed literature review of the topic of your choice and a proposal that uses the literature review to develop new hypotheses and design a method for testing the hypotheses.

  Seminar participants will be required to present assigned papers. The presentation should include a general discussion and explanation of the psychological and economics concepts or techniques. Analysis of the articles should cover the following points:

  A. Objective - what did the author try to do?

  B. Methodology - how did he/she try to do it?

  C. Results - what was found?

  D. Limitations - critique - are the findings still valid given the limitations?

  Each paper will be assigned a "presenter" who will provide the written summary outlined above and a "discussant" who will critique the paper. The presenter will be expected to be able to respond to these critiques (lecturers will also add their input for which you should be prepared).

  Approval will be based upon your presentations, participation in discussions, and literature review/proposal.

• Assessment

  Individual Term Paper

• Grading Scale

  Pass/Fail

• Literature

  The dailed literature schedule of articles (syllabus) will be provided.