Theory Testing and Process Evidence in Accounting Experiments
H. Scott Asay, Ryan Guggenmos, Kathryn Kadous, Lisa Koonce, Robert Libby; Theory Testing and Process Evidence in Accounting Experiments. The Accounting Review 2021; doi: https://doi.org/10.2308/TAR-2019-1001
50 Pages Posted: 25 Nov 2019 Last revised: 20 Dec 2021
Date Written: November 2, 2021
Abstract
This paper discusses the role of process evidence in accounting research. We define process evidence broadly as data providing insight into how and why cause-effect relationships occur, and we provide a framework to guide the provision and evaluation of process evidence in accounting studies. Our definition allows for an expanded understanding of techniques for gathering process evidence. The framework highlights the importance of the study’s goals and theory in choosing how to provide process evidence as well as how much process evidence to provide. The paper also outlines the strengths and limitations of three approaches to providing process evidence: mediation, moderation, and multiple-study based designs. We provide recommendations for best practices for each approach to minimize threats to validity and maximize the value of process evidence.
Keywords: experimental research, process evidence, moderation, mediation, multiple experiments, experimental design
JEL Classification: M41, M42, C91
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation