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Prepared by Arabella VolkovUniversity of Southern Queensland
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Introduction
• Reference– Text Chapter 1
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Learning Objectives
• At the conclusion of this lecture, you should have an appreciation of:– what is meant by ‘accounting theory’
and the purpose it has served over time
– the structure of this book and how it logically sequences its discussion of accounting theory
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Overview of Accounting Theory
What is a theory? Hendriksen’s definition:
…the coherent set of hypothetical, conceptual and pragmatic principles forming the general framework of reference for a field of inquiry.
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Overview of Accounting Theory
What is an accounting theory? Hendriksen: logical reasoning in the
form of a set of broad principles that: • provide a general framework of
reference by which accounting practice can be evaluated and
• guide the development of new practices and procedures.
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Accounting Theory
• Modern concept– compared to mathematics
or physics
• Pacioli’s treatise– Double-entry accounting– Documenting process but not
explaining basis for recording
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The development of accountingtheory has been mostly unstructured
Chambers:Accounting has frequently been described as a body of practices which have been developed in response to practical needs rather than by deliberate and systematic thinking
Accounting Theory
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Accounting Prescriptions
• Developed to resolve problems as they arose – reactive
• Ad hoc
• Led to inconsistencies in practice– e.g. Asset revaluations
• Accounting standard setters– Conceptual framework projects
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• Pre-1400s little accounting theory
• 1400s– Pacioli 1494 – Double entry– Main emphasis was on practice
• Pre-theory period– 1400s until 1800s
Accounting Theory Development
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Accounting Theory Development
Pre-Theory Period (1400s-1800s)
Goldberg:
No theory of accounting was devised from the time of Pacioli down to the opening of the nineteenth century. Suggestions of theory appear here and there, but not to the extent necessary to place accounting on a systematic basis
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General Scientific Period
• 1800–1955– explanations of accounting practice– theory based on observations of
current practice– empirical analysis
Accounting Theory Development
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Accounting Theory Development
Normative period
• 1956–1970 – norms for best practice
what should be v. what is• Two dominant groups:
– conceptual framework proponents– critics of historical cost
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Accounting Theory Development
Normative period• End of the normative period started in
the early 1970s– Unlikely a normative theory would be
accepted– Availability of financial economic
principles and testing methods
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Accounting Theory Development
Specific Scientific Theory / Positive Era• 1970–present day
– dissatisfaction with normative theories
• positive accounting theoryexplain & predict
• e.g. bonus plan hypothesis
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Accounting Theory Development
• Behavioural research:Sociological implications of accounting numbers and the associated actionsof ‘key players’
– emerged in 1950s but despite growing acceptance, positive accounting theory still dominates
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Accounting Theory Development
• Recent Events– Corporate collapses
• e.g. Enron, Worldcom• Could comprehensive theory
have prevented this?• Increased legislative reporting
requirements
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Accounting Theory Timeline
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Accounting Theory
• Conceptual framework – 1980s– nature and purpose of financial
reporting– criteria for deciding between
alternative accounting practices– SACs 1–4
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Accounting Theory
• Conceptual framework – Recent Developments– Joint project between IASB & FASB– Harmonisation of accounting
practices through international accounting standards
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Summary
• Definition of accounting theory
• Major periods of accounting theory development
• Conceptual framework
• Recent events
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Key terms and concepts
• Accounting
• Theory
• Normative theory
• Positive theory
• Conceptual framework
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Where to get more information
• Other courses
• List books
• Articles
• Electronic sources
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Prepared by Arabella VolkovUniversity of Southern Queensland
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References
• Text – Chapter 2
Theory and Method
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Learning ObjectivesAt the conclusion of this lecture, you
should have an appreciation of:– why there are different types of theories
of accounting– the difference between deductive and
inductive approaches to theory development
– the importance of syntax, semantics and pragmatism in developing and evaluating theories
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Learning ObjectivesAt the conclusion of this lecture, you
should have an appreciation of:
• the difference between dogmatic,self-evident and scientific tests of the ‘truthfulness’ of theories
• how scientific theories are developed and tested and how they progress
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Imposing order
Accountants often need to impose some sort
of order on imprecise events and transactions
• Exercise appropriate judgement– Analyse the financial implications
of transactions – Assess the impact of transactions– Establish the legal entitlement– Calculate the current value
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A range of accounting theories
Accounting as:
• a historical record
• a language
• intracorporate politics
• standards setting as politics
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A range of accounting theories
Accounting as:
• mythology
• magic
• communication-decision information
• an economic good
• a social commodity
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A range of accounting theories
Accounting as:
• ideology and exploitation
• a social club
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Theory formulation
What is a theory?• a deductive system of statements
of decreasing generality• nets cast to catch the world…• Logical flow of argument leading
from fundamental assumptions and connected statements to final conclusions
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Theory formulation
How are theories formulated?
• Deductive – reasoning from general statements
to specific statements
• Inductive– reasoning from the particular to the
general
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Theory formulationFormulating a theory • Epistemology – the study of the acquisition
of knowledge• Accounting theorists have drawn on the
natural sciences• Accounting:
– Social science– Measurement and technical process
• Scientific or naturalistic method?
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Parts of a theorySyntactics:
• Rules of the language used• Syllogism: set of premises and
conclusion
Premise 1: All accounts relating to assets have debit balances.
Premise 2: The accumulated depreciation account relates to
assets.
Conclusion: The accumulated depreciation account has a debit balance.
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Parts of a theorySemantics:
• Links the basic concepts of a theory to objects in the real world
Premise 1: All asset accounts have debit balances.
Premise 2: The sales returns account is not an asset account.
Conclusion: The sales returns account has a debit balance.
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Parts of a theory
Pragmatics:
• The effect of words or symbols on people
Accounting should provide useful information for decision making to
certain interested parties
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Testing a TheoryCriteria of truth:
• Dogmatic basis– ‘believe what we read’
• Self-evident basis– reasonableness
• Scientific basis– Syntactics and induction
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Testing a Theory
1. Identifyresearch problem
2. Develop theoretical framework
3. Statehypothesis
4. Constructresearch design
5. Observe
6. Analyse7. Evaluate8. Assess
limitations and constraints
Theory plane
Observation plane
Empirical Accounting Research Program
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Testing a Theory
Criteria of truth
• Scientific basis
– Popper and falsification
– Research programs
– Kuhnian paradigms or disciplinary matrices
– Feyerabend’s approach
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Summary• A number of conflicting theories
have developed
• A theory generally consists of three parts
• There are several criteria for judging a theory
• Persuasiveness of evidence
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Key terms and concepts
• Theory
• Natural science or Social science
• Deductive
• Inductive
• Syntax
• Semantics
• Pragmatism
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Where to get more information
• Other courses
• List books
• Articles
• Electronic sources
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