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Making institutional accounting research critical: dead end or new beginning?

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  • Sven Modell

Abstract

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to review extant accounting research combining institutional and critical theories to examine whether the paradigmatic tensions associated with such research can be alleviated whilst engendering politically engaged scholarship aimed at facilitating processes of emancipation in organisational fields. Design/methodology/approach - – The paper provides a review of relevant accounting research and offers recommendations for how to combine institutional and critical research approaches in a paradigmatically consistent way. Findings - – Extant accounting research combining institutional and critical theories has not dealt effectively with the partly inter-related problems of ontological drift (i.e. misalignment of ontological assumptions and epistemological commitments) and the conflation of notions of agency and structure. If such problems remain unaddressed institutional research aimed at generating politically engaged scholarship and human emancipation is unlikely to progress in a paradigmatically consistent direction. Recommendations for how to address these issues, grounded in recent advances in critical realism, are elaborated upon. This results in a contingent view of the ontological possibilities of emancipation in organisational fields as well as the epistemological premises that need to be filled to engender processes of emancipation. Originality/value - – The paper reviews an emerging body of research seeking to radicalise institutional accounting research and enhance its contributions to democratic debate in organisations and society. It also outlines how some pertinent paradigmatic tensions associated with such research may be addressed.

Suggested Citation

  • Sven Modell, 2015. "Making institutional accounting research critical: dead end or new beginning?," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 28(5), pages 773-808, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:eme:aaajpp:v:28:y:2015:i:5:p:773-808
    DOI: 10.1108/AAAJ-09-2013-1457
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Stoica Dragos Andrei & Dobre Florin & Nechita Elena, 2020. "IFRS implementation in Romania. Insights from a professional’s perspective," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 14(1), pages 256-262, July.
    2. Modell, Sven & Vinnari, Eija & Lukka, Kari, 2017. "On the virtues and vices of combining theories: The case of institutional and actor-network theories in accounting research," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 62-78.
    3. Mutch, Alistair, 2020. "Margaret Archer and a morphogenetic take on strategy," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    4. Clune, Conor & O’Dwyer, Brendan, 2020. "Organizing dissonance through institutional work: The embedding of social and environmental accountability in an investment field," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    5. Tweedie, Dale, 2018. "After Habermas: Applying Axel Honneth’s critical theory in accounting research," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 39-55.
    6. Maurizio Cisi & Francesca Alice Centrone, 2021. "The Human Capital for Value Creation and Social Impact: The Interpretation of the IR’s HC Definition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-19, June.
    7. Ozdil, Esin & Hoque, Zahirul, 2017. "Budgetary change at a university: A narrative inquiry," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 316-328.
    8. Peda, Peeter & Vinnari, Eija, 2020. "The discursive legitimation of profit in public-private service delivery," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    9. Gallhofer, Sonja & Haslam, Jim, 2019. "Some reflections on the construct of emancipatory accounting: Shifting meaning and the possibilities of a new pragmatism," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    10. Modell, Sven, 2017. "Critical realist accounting research: In search of its emancipatory potential," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 20-35.

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