Assignment: Accounting Research and Practices

Q 1 Abdel-Khalik and Ajinkya (1979) provide a precise definition of the nature of an experiment in that the researcher manipulates one or more variables with subjects who are assigned randomly to various groups. These groups receive different combinations of the variables (termed treatments); in some cases a control group may exist which receives no such treatments. The major advantage of experiments lies in the researchers' ability to ensure high internal validity, defined in terms of how well they can eliminate rival explanations for their results. Experiments are, thus, particularly suited to research questions that investigate causal relations between variables.

In this context, what guidelines will you suggest for a good experimental research?

Discuss the internal validity threats of experimental research.

Q 2 Performance of employees and performance of departments are important for the success of companies. We collect the opinions of employees in the following survey.

Department Performance Survey

1. How skilled at their jobs are the members of your team?

• Extremely skilled
• Very skilled
• Somewhat skilled
• Not so skilled
• Not at all skilled

2. How professionally do members of your team behave?

• Extremely professionally
• Very professionally
• Somewhat professionally
• Not so professionally
• Not at all professionally

3. How honest with each other are the members of your team?

• Extremely honest
• Very honest
• Somewhat honest
• Not so honest
• Not at all honest

4. How well do members of your team share responsibility for tasks?

• Extremely well
• Very well.
• Somewhat well
• Not so well
• Not at all well

5. How well does your supervisor work with clients?

• Extremely well
• Very well
• Somewhat well
• Not so well
• Not at all well

6. How efficiently are team meetings conducted?

• Extremely efficiently
• Very efficiently
• Somewhat efficiently
• Not so efficiently
• Not at all efficiently

7. How fairly are responsibilities shared among your team members?

• Extremely fairly
• Very fairly
• Not so fairly
• Not at all fairly

8. How hardworking is your supervisor?

• Extremely hard working
• Very hardworking
• Somewhat hardworking
• Not so hardworking
• Not at all hardworking

9. How often does your team meet its deadlines?

• Always
• Most of the time
• About half of the time
• Once in a while
• Never

10. How politely do members of your team treat each other?

- Extremely politely
- Very politely
- Somewhat politely
- Not so well
- Not at all well

11. How well does your supervisor handle criticism

• Extremely well
• Very well
• Somewhat well
• Not so well
• Not at all well

12. How quickly does your team adjust to changing priorities?

• Extremely quickly
• Very quickly
• Somewhat quickly
• Not so quickly
• Not at all quickly

13. How quickly does your team act on its decisions?

• Extremely quickly
• Very quickly
• Somewhat quickly
• Not so quickly
• Not at all quickly

13. Should your team be larger than it is, smaller than it is, or is the size about right?

• Much larger.
• Somewhat larger.
• Slightly smaller.
• Somewhat smaller.

Instructions

1- Give your opinion concerning the survey. Identify the objectives of the survey. Identify the respondents to the survey?

What are the issues related to designing a survey (The questions for which you will try to find answers at the design stage)?

Discuss the methods that you can use to measure reliability of survey?

2- Discuss the differences between qualitative methods and quantitative methods.

When you have to use qualitative and when you have to use quantitative research?