Use of the Action-Research Methodology in the Development of Accounting Education

Abstract

Both accounting and education have developed throughout this century under
the influence of the scientific methodology which has served the natural sciences
well in their recent developments. We argue that an over-reliance on the
scientific methodology has not allowed accounting education to develop optimally
and that other perspectives on educational research are available which can
identify developments which might improve the academic environment. One
methodology which we believe has encouraged worthwhile developments in our
own educational environment is action-research. This methodology appears to
have grown in popularity with academics generally, and in educational research
particularly, over the past few years. Here we provide reflections concerning the
use of it in the accounting education environment and hope that we can
encourage others to make use of it.