• Selected
• Entire List

Abstract:
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130 requires companies to report comprehensive income in a primary financial statement, but allows its presentation in either a statement of comprehensive income or a statement of stockholders' equity. In an experiment, we examine whether and how alternative presentation formats affect nonprofessional investors' processing of comprehensive-income information, specifically, information disclosing the volatility of unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities. The results show that investors' judgments of corporate and management performance reflect the volatility of comprehensive income only when it is presented in a statement of comprehensive income. We provide evidence consistent with our psychology-based framework that these findings occur because format affects how nonprofessional investors weight comprehensive-income information and not whether they acquire this information or how they evaluate it.

Key Words: Comprehensive income; Nonprofessional investors; Presentation format; Volatility

Abstract:
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130 requires companies to report comprehensive income in a primary financial statement, but allows its presentation in either a statement of comprehensive income or a statement of stockholders' equity. In an experiment, we examine whether and how alternative presentation formats affect nonprofessional investors' processing of comprehensive-income information, specifically, information disclosing the volatility of unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities. The results show that investors' judgments of corporate and management performance reflect the volatility of comprehensive income only when it is presented in a statement of comprehensive income. We provide evidence consistent with our psychology-based framework that these findings occur because format affects how nonprofessional investors weight comprehensive-income information and not whether they acquire this information or how they evaluate it.

Key Words: Comprehensive income; Nonprofessional investors; Presentation format; Volatility

Abstract:
In this paper, we examine the role experimental research plays in developing accounting knowledge. We use as a framework for this examination an information economic perspective, positing that the general goal of accounting research is legitimate, consequential belief revision. We then evaluate how the characteristics of experimental research provide advantages and disadvantages in creating legitimate, consequential belief revision within the context of accounting issues. Throughout the paper, we provide guidance on how to design and implement experiments with the greatest potential to influence thought.

Abstract:
XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) is an emerging technology that facilitates directed searches and simultaneous presentation of related financial statement and footnote information. We investigate whether using an XBRL-enhanced search engine helps nonprofessional financial statement users acquire and integrate related financial information when making an investment decision. We conduct our investigation in the context of recognition versus disclosure of stock option compensation. Our results reveal that many users do not access the technology, but those that do use it are better able to acquire and integrate information. Specifically, we find that when stock option accounting varies between firms, the use of an XBRL-enhanced search engine increases the likelihood that individuals acquire information about stock option compensation disclosed in the footnotes. We also find that XBRL helps individuals integrate the implications of this information, resulting in different investment decisions between individuals who use and do not use the search engine. Our results suggest that search-facilitating technologies, such as XBRL, aid financial statement users by improving the transparency of firms' financial statement information and managers' choices for reporting that information. Our results also reveal that wide publicity about the benefits of using search-facilitating technology may be needed to induce financial statement users to access the technology.

Abstract:
XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) is an emerging technology that facilitates directed searches and simultaneous presentation of related financial statement and footnote information. We investigate whether using an XBRL-enhanced search engine helps nonprofessional financial statement users acquire and integrate related financial information when making an investment decision. We conduct our investigation in the context of recognition versus disclosure of stock option compensation. Our results reveal that many users do not access the technology, but those that do use it are better able to acquire and integrate information. Specifically, we find that when stock option accounting varies between firms, the use of an XBRL-enhanced search engine increases the likelihood that individuals acquire information about stock option compensation disclosed in the footnotes. We also find that XBRL helps individuals integrate the implications of this information, resulting in different investment decisions between individuals who use and do not use the search engine. Our results suggest that search-facilitating technologies, such as XBRL, aid financial statement users by improving the transparency of firms' financial statement information and managers' choices for reporting that information. Our results also reveal that wide publicity about the benefits of using search-facilitating technology may be needed to induce financial statement users to access the technology.

recognition, disclosure, transparency, XBRL

Abstract:
Research suggests that investors and creditors react less strongly to information disclosed in footnotes than to information recognized on the face of financial statements, due at least in part to cognitive processing limitations. Emerging technologies (e.g., XBRL) that facilitate directed searches and simultaneous presentation of related financial statement and footnote information could potentially alleviate these limitations. We use an experiment to investigate whether the use of a search-facilitating technology affects how individuals react to recognition versus disclosure of stock option compensation. We find that the use of search-facilitating technology reduces differences in nonprofessional investors' financial performance judgments and investment decisions created by recognition versus disclosure. Additionally, we provide evidence that investors perceive greater differences in financial statement reliability between recognition and disclosure when they use search-facilitating technology. Overall, our findings suggest that search-facilitating technology improves the transparency of financial statement information and therefore may reduce incentives for firms to lobby for or to choose footnote disclosure to minimize the effects of negative information.

recognition, disclosure, transparency, XBRL

Abstract:
Business executives and academics frequently criticize budget-based compensation plans as providing incentives for subordinates to build slack into proposed budgets. In this paper, we examine whether either of two practices - using budgets to allocate scarce resources, or providing information about co-workers - reduces budget slack and increases subordinate performance when organizations use budgets for performance evaluation. The results from our experiment show that using budgets for both resource allocation and performance evaluation not only eliminates budget slack but also increases subordinates' effort and task performance. Additionally, we find that an internal reporting system that provides information about subordinates' budgets and performance to their co-workers mitigates budget slack when superiors do not use budgets as a basis for resource allocation. These results highlight the synergies between the planning (resource allocation) and control (performance evaluation) functions of managerial accounting practices such as budgeting. Our results also suggest that by designing the internal information system to reduce information asymmetry among subordinates, the firm can increase subordinates' incentives to provide more accurate budgets.

budgeting, performance evaluation, resource allocation, information, slack, performance

Abstract:
This paper reports results from an experiment which provide evidence on how certain provisions of current and revised segment reporting standards affect financial analysts? judgments. Specifically, we examine the effect of two alternative approaches to segment definition: segments defined by grouping similar products (similarity approach) and segments defined by a company?s internal reporting classification (management approach). The first approach is used currently under SFAS No. 14 as the basis for determining externally-reported segments, while the second approach will be used after December 15, 1997, the effective date of the FASB?s new segment reporting standard, SFAS No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information. Results show that analysts perceived segment reporting to be more reliable when similar products were combined in a segment (SFAS No. 14) than when dissimilar products were combined, and when external segments were the same as those used internally (SFAS No. 131) than when external and internal segments differed. Analysts? confidence in their earnings forecasts and stock valuation judgments was affected by the interaction of the similarity and management approaches. As long as external segments were the same as internal segments, analysts? confidence was not affected by whether products combined in a segment were similar or dissimilar. In contrast, if external and internal segments differed, analysts had greater confidence in their judgments when similar products were combined in a segment than when dissimilar products were combined. These results support the FASB?s position that the management approach will positively affect analysts? perceptions of the reliability of segment data. In addition, our results suggest that, in certain cases, the management approach will enhance analysts? confidence in reported segment data.