Designing a Model of Auditors'''' Cognitive Styles and Evaluating the Axes Identified in the Auditing Profession

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Accounting, Khorramshah International Branch,Islamic Azad University, Khorramshahr,Iran

2 Department of Accounting, Masjed - Soleiman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Masjed-Soleiman, Iran

3 Department of Economics, Khorramshahr university of Marine Sciences and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran

Abstract

 
One of the most important functions of the auditing profession is the behavior of auditors in making professional judgments that arise from their perceptual frameworks. It can be effective in reducing perceptual biases and increasing information transparency of stakeholders. The purpose of this study is designing a model of auditors' cognitive styles and evaluating the axes identified in the auditing profession. Although past studies such as (Fuller and Kaplan, 2004; Yankova, 2015 and Rembing et al., 2019) have investigated the effects of cognitive styles in the auditing profession, little research has been done in the past to integrate its dimensions in the auditing profession, and most of the studies conducted are based on standard questionnaires and non-natives with the auditing profession. Therefore, in this study, the existence of such a theoretical gap in the auditing profession, tries to provide a coherent model in this department by relying on the Grounded theory to cover the weakness of past research to develop the evaluable dimensions of this phenomenon in the auditing profession. On the other hand, the need to pay attention to cognitive styles in the auditing profession can help auditors more quickly and consciously react to the existence of contradictions in the practices of clients.
 
2- Research Questions

What are the themes of auditors' cognitive styles?
What are the components of auditors' cognitive styles?
What are the categories of auditors' cognitive styles?
What are the most influential axes of auditors' cognitive styles?

 
3- Methods
The methodology is mixed and based on the result of developmental research. In this research, interviews are used to collect data in the qualitative part, matrix checklists are used based on pairs comparison in the quantitative part. The target population in the qualitative part was 12 academic specialists who were considered experts, both scientifically and empirically. Sampling in the qualitative methodology was the snowball. The target statistical population in quantitative part is 20 managers of the listed companies who were selected based on work experience and the level of technical and specialized knowledge through homogeneous sampling. Therefore, first, through the qualitative analysis and relying on the Grounded theory, it is attempted to present the dimensions of auditors' cognitive styles in the form of a multidimensional model. After presenting the model and measuring the reliability of its dimensions through Delphi analysis, in the quantitative part, through interpretive ranking process, the research seeks to prioritize auditors' cognitive style axes.
 
4- Results
Research results in the qualitative part indicate the existence of 3 categories including auditors' intuitive cognition style, auditors' inductive/exploratory cognition style, auditors' interpretative cognition style and 6 components including inner, abstract, objective, critical, pragmatic, skeptical senses and 35 conceptual themes in the form of a 6-dimensional model, which was obtained during three stages of coding in the Grounded Theory analysis according to Glaser's approach. Also, the results in the quantitative section indicate that the percentage of influence of objective senses is higher than the rest of the axes and it was chosen as the most favorable axis of auditors' cognitive styles.
 
5- Conclusion
The results are the statement of the fact that objective senses as a style of inductive cognition is based on the functions of logical estimation of processes and planning of audit work, which helps auditors to use higher reliability for their opinion during professional judgment. These senses in auditors helps to create solutions to obtain reliable facts and through step-by-step processes, they help auditors reach functional facts and make a more informed opinion.
 
Keywords: Auditors' Cognitive Styles, Objective Senses, Professional Judgments, Grounded theory.
 
 
 

Keywords

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Journal of Accounting Advances
Volume 14, Issue 2 - Serial Number 83
November 2022
Pages 258-315

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History

  • Receive Date: 07 February 2023
  • Revise Date: 07 June 2023
  • Accept Date: 07 June 2023

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