Title: Testing vs. building accounting theory with experimental research: insights from management research

Authors: Daniel Reimsbach; Bastian Hauschild

Addresses: Business and Economics Faculty, University of Duesseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1 (Bld. 24.31, Rm. 02.04), 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany ' Business and Economics Faculty, University of Duesseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1 (Bld. 24.31, Rm. 02.04), 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany

Abstract: With this conceptual paper, we want to raise scholars' awareness of the underused potential of experiments in accounting research. We refer to research taxonomies from the management discipline to explore the role of experimental research in testing and building accounting theory. Although the contribution of laboratory research to testing theory is well acknowledged, we argue that exploratory experimental research efforts also have the potential to build new theory, pointing at the underused potential of experiments in current accounting research. In doing so, we (i) provide a clear understanding of theory building and theory testing in accounting research; (ii) present a guideline for assessing the degree of theory building and theory testing inherent in any (experimental) study. Furthermore, we argue that an inter-study triangulation aligning experimental and archival methodologies will have the potential to produce results that are robust to internal and external validity concerns, thus advancing accounting theory.

Keywords: accounting theory; experimental research; theory building; theory testing; research taxonomies; pro forma earnings; accounting research.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBAF.2015.071050

International Journal of Behavioural Accounting and Finance, 2015 Vol.5 No.1, pp.82 - 98

Received: 28 Jan 2014
Accepted: 31 Mar 2015
Published online: 09 Aug 2015 *

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