Future research directions at the intersection between cognitive neuroscience research and auditors’ professional skepticism

Olsen, Carmen; Gold, Andreas

doi:10.1016/j.acclit.2018.03.006

Cited by 17 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…In summary, ‘scholars are still left with a challenging task of choosing an appropriate definition and conceptualization of PS in current PS models’ (Olsen & Gold, 2018, p. 128). Thus, our initial research question is:RQ1 How do auditors conceptualise PS—in what respects do they perceive PS to be an individual auditor character trait relative to a process (i.e., judgement or action)?…”

Section: Professional Skepticismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hurtt et al's (2013) model expands on Nelson by introducing four broad categories of antecedents of PS judgement and action: (1) auditor (including traits); (2) evidential; (3) client; and (4) external environment characteristics with each category incorporating an extensive list of determinants. However, while standard-setters, regulators (e.g., Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), 2008) and academic researchers (e.g., Cohen et al, 2017;Nelson, 2009;Quadackers et al, 2014) agree PS is essential in audits, PS remains difficult to define and measure (Hurtt et al, 2013;International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), 2015;Olsen & Gold, 2018). This section summarizes PS audit literature most relevant to this study.…”

Section: Professional Skepticismmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Professional skepticism through audit praxis: An Aristotelian perspective

2022

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While professional skepticism (PS) is a critical element of audit practice, academic and professional discourse offers unclear and sometimes competing narratives of how to maintain or improve it. This study provides a holistic account of how PS develops by interpreting interviews of 21 highly experienced auditors. Using a theoretical framework from Aristotle and Alasdair MacIntyre, PS is interpreted as a character virtue of skepticism guided by the intellectual virtue of phr on esis. PS is developed through two distinct stages of auditors' careers: (i) the pre-professional phase, in which an auditor acquires characteristics amenable to developing PS; and(ii) the professional praxis phase, in which PS is inculcated through a combination of formal and on-the-job instruction and audit experience. This approach to how PS is developed suggests that audit firms could focus more explicitly on recruiting novice auditors whose pre-professional characteristics make them receptive to acquiring PS, and on blended learning, with formal and on-the job instruction and habituation through audit experience.

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Section: Professional Skepticismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Professional Skepticismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Professional skepticism through audit praxis: An Aristotelian perspective

2022

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“…Segundo a NBC TA 200 (R1), o ceticismo profissional seria a conduta questionadora do auditor ao longo de seu trabalho que o tornaria mais crítico ao avaliar as evidências de auditoria e, consequentemente, o tornaria mais apto a identificar possíveis distorções derivadas de erros ou fraudes. Nesse sentido, o ceticismo profissional é um balizador da qualidade dos serviços de auditoria (Olsen &Gold, 2018). Isso ocorre porque uma auditoria de qualidade exige que o auditor em questão seja capaz, conjuntamente, de reconhecer e reportar distorções contábeis da entidade auditada (DeAngelo, 1981), assim, na ausência de ceticismo, a capacidade de reconhecimento das eventuais irregularidades contábeis pelo auditor é diretamente afetada.…”

Section: Ceticismo Profissional Dos Auditoresunclassified

Relação Entre Os Traços Sombrios De Personalidade E O Ceticismo Profissional Dos Auditores Independentes

Marçal

Alberton

2020

REPeC

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Objetivo: Analisar a influência dos “traços sombrios” de personalidade no ceticismo profissional de auditores independentes do Brasil. Método: A amostra foi composta por 170 auditores independentes com registro ativo no CNAI, sendo os dados analisados mediante estatística descritiva em primeira instância; via análise de regressões estimadas por Mínimos Quadrados Ordinários para a verificação das hipóteses; e por regressões estimadas por Mínimos Desvios Absolutos como medida de análise de sensibilidade. Resultados: Os resultados indicam que o narcisismo pode influenciar positivamente o atributo de ceticismo profissional ao alavancar a autoestima e a capacidade de questionamento dos auditores. Já o maquiavelismo e a psicopatia, perante o conjunto de dados analisados, parecem não apresentar qualquer influência positiva no ceticismo profissional, sendo factível até mesmo uma relação inversa em aspectos de autonomia e autoestima, respectivamente. Contribuições: Em âmbito teórico, o estudo promove o suprimento da lacuna acerca da interdisciplinaridade entre a contabilidade e a psicologia, adentrando especificamente o cerne da auditoria em tal relação. Em termos práticos, a pesquisa promove o entendimento da relevância dos traços de personalidade socialmente indesejáveis para a formação do ceticismo profissional dos auditores, algo útil para as firmas de auditoria ao longo de processos de seleção e treinamento de seus profissionais.

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“…In particular, the influence of training of skeptical judgments and critical thinking as well as experience or expertise in auditing was noted (e.g. Bucaro, 2019; Gao and Zhang, 2019; Knechel et al , 2010; Olsen and Gold, 2018; Peecher et al , 2007; Wedemeyer, 2010). In summary, although academic research has begun to address professional skepticism, it remains a topic where there are many more questions than answers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anchoring and adjustment effects on audit judgments: experimental evidence from Switzerland

Henrizi

Himmelsbach

Hunziker

2021

JAAR

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PurposeThe purpose of this study is to illustrate the potentially detrimental effects on audit decision-making of certain judgmental heuristics, which can lead to systematic judgmental biases. This paper provides background on the heuristics and biases approaches to decision-making to increase auditors' awareness of the anchoring and adjustment effects affecting audit judgments adversely.Design/methodology/approachThis study reports the results of an experimental research design analyzing the audit judgment of 85 auditors in Switzerland.FindingsBased on the results of the experiment, the results indicate evidence on the existence of the anchoring and adjustment heuristic in Swiss audit judgments. The authors could identify an influence of the audit company size, the auditors' experience and the auditors' knowledge about behaviorism and anchor heuristic with regard to the anchoring and adjustment effect on audit judgment.Research limitations/implicationsThe experimental tasks were relatively simple abstractions from the more complex analytical review situations faced by practicing auditors. Due to the small sample size, the authors cannot ensure representativeness of the results.Practical implicationsProfessional judgment is a skill that auditor acquires overtime, combined with experience and knowledge, that allows him to achieve reasonable judgments, being independent of other opinions and free from material biases in a given circumstance. Our results show that auditors who are aware of biases and heuristics are less prone to judgment biases.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to analyze the impact of auditors' explicit experience and knowledge about behaviorism and anchor heuristic on the anchoring and adjustment effect on audit judgment. Through a stronger awareness of cognitive biases, a professional skepticism can be enhanced.

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Future research directions at the intersection between cognitive neuroscience research and auditors’ professional skepticism

Cited by 17 publications

References 76 publications

Professional skepticism through audit praxis: An Aristotelian perspective

Professional skepticism through audit praxis: An Aristotelian perspective

Relação Entre Os Traços Sombrios De Personalidade E O Ceticismo Profissional Dos Auditores Independentes

Anchoring and adjustment effects on audit judgments: experimental evidence from Switzerland

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