Interdisciplinary research on accounting: Institutions and practices

Citation

(2009), "Interdisciplinary research on accounting: Institutions and practices", Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Vol. 22 No. 8. https://doi.org/10.1108/aaaj.2009.05922haa.005

Interdisciplinary research on accounting: Institutions and practices

Article Type: Call for papers From: Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Volume 22, Issue 8

Date: 31st March - 2nd April 2010Location: Glamorgan Building, Cardiff University

Recent decades have witnessed the substantial growth of interdisciplinary research in accounting. Accounting is no longer perceived as a purely technical pursuit. Many journals and conferences on accounting now espouse a focus on accounting in diverse places and the importance of comprehending the operation of accounting practices by reference to methodological and theoretical insights drawn from other disciplines. The pursuit of the interdisciplinary project in accounting and management is not without controversy. For example, the fragmentation of the accounting discipline into a series of introverted sub-fields has been observed and the extent of intra- let alone interdisciplinary engagement has been questioned. There are variations across accounting sub-fields in the pursuit and impact of interdisciplinary endeavour. There are also variations across space. It has recently been argued that “Interdisciplinary accounting research has not impacted the North American research community to any material extent” (Merchant, 2008, Critical Perspectives on Accounting). This malaise is attributed to the perceived limited ‘relevance’ and ‘contribution’ of interdisciplinary investigation.

In this workshop we invite papers that explore and exemplify the benefits, absences, obstacles and pitfalls of interdisciplinary research in accounting. We intend for the workshop to review the progress of interdisciplinary research practices in accounting and management and explore the future prospects for inter, multi and transdisciplinary research involving accounting. These objects will be placed in context by a consideration of wider themes and issues in the practice of interdisciplinary research. Professor Dick Boland, Professor Julie Klein and Professor Donald Mackenzie have agreed to serve as Plenary speakers. Papers from the Workshop will be considered for a Special Section of the journal Accounting, Organizations and Society.

Workshop Themes: we welcome contributions within an interdisciplinary agenda for accounting but are particularly keen to encourage themes such as:

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  Modes of interdisciplinary research in accounting and management.

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  Impediments to interdisciplinary research; boundaries, bureaucracies and institutional values

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  Identifying bridges, transfers and spaces between accounting, management and other disciplines.

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  Comparative studies of disciplinary configurations

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  Pursuing interdisciplinarity in a monodisciplinary environment.

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  Fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across cultural, spatial and ‘language’ boundaries.

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  Developing interdisciplinary cultures in accounting and management

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  The implications of interdisciplinarity research agendas for teaching, research, practice and professions.

The fee for the workshop will be £150. For further information and to discuss submissions, please contact the conference secretary Mrs Julie Mein (MeinJ@cf.ac.uk), or Professor Keith Robson (RobsonK@cf.ac.uk).

IPARG: The Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Accounting Research Group, Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University. http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/carbs/research/groups/ipa/index.html