The Scientific approach to accounting research assumes there is an absolute truth that accounting should achieve

and that accounting Practitioners should become scientists'.

Explain why both parts of this statement are misconceptions.

Scientific Method Vs Accounting Research

Epistemological approach

Systematic

Structured

Controlled research design

- Leads to the acquisition of knowledge or Conclusion

(Extracted from Article by Jane Godfrey,2010)

It considers information from a wide variety of sources:

Financial Information

Experiments

Computer Stimulations

Interviews

Surveys

Historical records

Ethnography (the study of people, culture and customs)

Individuals

Entities

Government

Encompasses a range of Areas

Financial accounting

Management accounting

Auditing taxation

Capital market Research

Accounting research is carried out by both academic researchers and practicing accountants in all areas of the accounting profession and focuses on solving immediate problems for a single client/group of clients

MISCONCEPTIONS WITH SCIENTIFIC APPROACHES TO ACCOUNTING RESEARCH

• It tries to make scientists out of accounting practitioners
• The scientific method assumes that there is an 'ABSOLUTE TRUTH' that accounting should achieve INCORRECT!!

Although an accounting researcher may apply the scientific method to theory construction, practitioners DO NOT act as scientist; they have different roles that can complement each other.

Accounting researchers use a scientific approach to find empirical evidence to support accounting practices, so that accounting practitioners can recommend the appropriate methods for given situations based on the evidence.

Is the above correct or how do i go about in simplifying information to make it more understandable please.