Accounting Research Methodology

Methodology of accounting research is an important part of accounting theory. The flourishing of an academic subject and the scientificity of its theory are above all dependent on the flourishing and scientificity of its methodology. As accounting research is a process whereby the researcher, influenced and directed by certain methodology, conducts his study on the object and explores the essence and law of accounting by applying scientific research methods, a thorough investigation of methodology to enhance scientificity of accounting research is therefore of great theoretical significance to the enrichment or perfection of its theoretical system and to the flourishing and scientificity of accountancy. Moreover, a scientific theory must be able to provide adequate guidance in practice and fulfill its established objective. The objective of accounting can be briefly expressed in terms of " providing useful accounting information to its users." At present, however, distortion of accounting information is prevalent and even serious in some enterprises. Though the reasons behind such distortion are no doubt complicated and diversified, it is closely related to the failure of accounting theory to provide adequate guidance in practice and the problems of scientificity, objectiveness, feasibility and effectiveness in the accounting theory itself. As the formulation of a theory must make use of advanced means and scientific methods under the guidance of methodology, we believe that the academic study of methodology of accounting research is of great practical value in the promotion of scientificity, objectiveness, feasibility and effectiveness of accounting theories, in providing adequate guidance in accounting practice and in restraining information distortion and regulating the capital market in our country.There are six chapters in this paper. A brief introduction of each chapter is as follows:Chapter One. Introduction. After an overall review of the current status of academic study in the methodology of accounting research at home and abroad, the basic approaches in formulating accounting research methodology are proposed and the important viewpoints concerning the research subject are described briefly. Finally the methods of research are explained compendiously.Chapter Two. Overview of methodology in accounting research. With an investigation of the concepts of study, research, accounting research and methodology, accounting research methodology is adequately defined. On this basis, the significance of research in accounting research methodology is discussed.Chapter Three. The researcher of accounting research, the object and their respective characteristics. Based on an elaborated investigation of the object ofaccounting research and its structure, it is argued in this chapter that accounting activities are the logical starting point of the edifice of accounting theories. After an overall analysis of the traits of both accounting practice and accounting research, it is further argued that, due to the structural complexity of its object, the nature of accounting research is necessarily the synthesis of scientificity, objectiveness, feasibility and effectiveness. At the end of this chapter, a systematic elucidation is given on the structure of the accounting researcher and the quality required of him to adapt to the nature of accounting research.Chapter Four. Methodology of the formulation of accounting research results. The chapter begins with a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the distinctness in such aspects as philosophical foundation, methodological trait and adaptability between the two major methodological systems: the normative method and the positive method, as they arise in the course of accounting research. A conclusion is drawn that the accounting theory is necessarily a normative theory integrating both "what it is" and "what it should be" aspects, and some accounting theory so-called scientific positive accounting theory prevailing in the West cannot be regarded as the accou...