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...

The overly optimistic debt ratings provided by credit rating agencies (CRAs) and the lack of transparency about the rating process have been criticized by regulators and pundits for exacerbating the financial crisis. We conduct a mixed-design experiment exploring how two proposals advanced by...

This study examines whether the perceived independence and financial expertise of audit committee members affect external auditors' exposure to legal liability. We use an experiment in which potential jurors make judgments about auditor independence and legal liability for a case involving an...

Abstract: This study examines whether the perceived independence and financial expertise of audit committee members affect external auditors' exposure to legal liability. We use an experiment in which potential jurors make judgments about auditor independence and legal liability for a case...

We examine whether personality differences between the CEO and CFO influence audit fees. Audit fees should reflect engagement risk associated with a client. We use personality differences between the CEO and CFO as a proxy for potential poor communication, reluctance to share information, and...

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002) required that firms disclose whether their audit committee has at least one independent financial expert. This study examines whether the independence and expertise of audit committee members lower the exposure of external auditors to legal liability. We use an...

We use plain-English, figures, and simple math to explain how to use path analysis to test for mediation and moderation. Many theories in accounting research can be conceptualized as mediated, moderated or moderated-mediation models to investigate both simple and complex hypothesized...