Accounting Research in 10 steps –

• Establish the facts or identify the issues.
  • To begin the research process one needs to the “why” and “what” of the problem
  • Define the problem clearly and concisely
• Generate a list of keywords and concepts.
  • Look at the clearly defined research problem, identify the keywords
  • Examine the index of accounting handbooks and/or textbooks for established accounting terminology.
• Check out the AICPA website.
  • http://aicpa.org
  • Under the Research tab members have access to white papers, standards and surveys.
• Locate an overview of the research problem.
  • The best place to start are handbooks or with accounting standards.
• Identify authoritative pronouncements.
  • Accounting research relies on authoritative precedents disseminated by recognized standard setting bodies such as FASB or IASB.
• Locate articles regarding the research problem.
  • Online databases such as ABI/Inform, Factiva, and Lexis-Nexis aggregate information from journals, magazines, trade journals, and newspapers.
• Google it.
  • But, be aware of freely available information, make sure information located in a Google search can be verified by information found in Accounting Standards or articles from the databases such as ABI/Inform
• Search investment research reports.
  • Investment research reports can be found in database such as ABI/Inform, Factiva, Mergents, Morning Star Investment Research Center and Valueline.
  • Pay attention to the Financial Footnotes where significant accounting policies will be disclosed.
• Examine financial statements.
  • Annual as well quarterly financial filings are available from the Security & Exchange commission, (http://sec.gov) for free.
  • Financial data can be found in databases such as Factiva and Mergents. 
  • Pay attention to the Financial Footnotes where significant accounting policies will be disclosed.
• Putting it all together.
  • Identify the purpose
  • Identify the audience
  • Identify the context
  • Identify all of the facts and ideas
  • Organize facts and ideas
  • Identify the best medium for the message