Question 1

ACC8000 ASSIGNMENT ONE, DUE 18 April, 2016, 11:55pm, 20% This assessment task will be testing your individual responses to the questions contained in this document that will able you to demonstrate your knowledge and application skills of that knowledge as well as your written communication skills

Learning objectives Learning objective 1: Demonstrate an understanding of an applied a research problems in financial and management accounting, and prepare strategies for their solution

Learning objective 2: Demonstrate an understanding of applied research methods

Learning objective 3: Collect and analyse accounting research data using applied research methods

Learning objective 4: Use correct Harvard referencing Please use the following guidelines to submit your answers Submission Guidelines: 1. Your assessment task will be graded only if word processed (i.e., not hand written) and

submitted electronically as set out in point 2 below. 2. Please submit this assessment task electronically through the Study Desk. 3. See Assessment Submission Instructions (How to submit your learning/assessment

tasks to the study desk) in the Assessment folder of the study desk for course ACC8000. Assignments must be run through Turnitin prior to submission. For more information about Turnitin see the link in the Introduction Topic on the Study Desk.

There are seven (7) questions on pages 2 and 3 of this document. Some questions have multiple requirements. All requirements for these seven (7) questions must be answered. The questions must be answered using appropriate formatting and correct Harvard referencing. There is a total word limit of 1,250 words for your answers. The word limit

does not include the reference list at the end of your assignment – please title your references "Bibliography" in accordance with Turnitin requirements). Please remember to use Harvard Referencing as explained in the Introduction Topic on the

Study Desk. Marks will be awarded for referencing. Marking Scheme The computer generated and electronically submitted assessment will be marked out of 100

marks and then scaled to 20%. The marks available for each requirement for each of the seven (7) questions and for referencing are provided at the end of each requirement. 1

Task for Assessment Task 1 that assess the four learning objectives mentioned on page 1 of this assessment task document for the topics covered in weeks 1 to 5 1. Read the article Why is it socially acceptable to be an accountant?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-16/lewis-why-is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an- accountant/6549994 Comment on the information you would like to obtain from reading the study so that you could determine whether the findings are valid. Outline the information you would require and why that information would be useful in assessing the validity of the study.

10 marks 2. Find a qualitative business study in the journal Qualitative Research in Accounting and Management

(please do not use any articles mentioned in the lecture or included on the Study Desk). a. Briefly describe what the study seeks to understand (ensure you provide the

reference for the study you have used). 3 marks

b. Identify how theory is used in the study you have chosen and provide the name of the theory that is used. 3 marks c. Explain the different approaches to using theory in qualitative studies. 6 marks 3. Review the study by Huang, Lin and Huang (2012)

a. What gap in previous research does the study seek to explore? 4 marks b. The abstract states "Learning style is traditionally assumed to be a predictor of learning

performance, yet few studies have identified the mediating and moderating effects between the two". Explain what is meant by a mediating and a moderating effect. 6 marks c. What are the suggested mediating and moderating effects in the study?

6 marks d. The study identifies three control variables. Explain the meaning of control variables

and why it is important to identify control variables. 2 5 marks

e. Explain the meaning of independent variables in quantitative studies. 3 marks f. Identify the independent variable/s in Huang, Lin and Huang's (2012) study.

3 marks 4. Read the article Financial planner says successful farmers have similar strategies. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-20/nrn-successful-farmers/5334112

It would seem that Paul Halligan relied on data in coming to his conclusions. What strategy do you think he has used to come to his conclusions? What research steps would you suggest he undertook in order to be able to say a research approach has been used to generate the

conclusions? 12 marks 5. Read the article Why it pays to wear expensive clothes. http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/careers/why-it-pays-to-wear-expensive- clothes/news-story/c8024f71cbe81389177568f4e943360b

a. What research approach has been used for the study? 3 marks b. Comment on the validity of the findings in relation to the approach to the research.

8 marks 6. Distinguish between the different types of issues/questions that research using qualitative

and quantitative approaches seek to address. 8 marks 7. Provide a brief description of the following sampling methods and include an example for

each method: a. Simple random sample 4 marks

b. Stratified random sample 4 marks

8. Appropriate presentation and correct referencing using the Harvard style. 12 marks Bibliography

Huang, EY, Lin, SW & Huang, TK 2012, 'What type of learning style leads to online participation in the mixed-mode e- learning environment? A study of software usage instruction', Computers & Education, vol. 58, no. 1, pp. 338-49. 3