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Retrieving, classifying and analysing narrative commentary in unstructured (glossy) annual reports published as PDF files

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  • Mahmoud El-Haj
  • Paulo Alves
  • Paul Rayson
  • Martin Walker
  • Steven Young

Abstract

We provide a methodological contribution by developing, describing and evaluating a method for automatically retrieving and analysing text from digital PDF annual report files published by firms listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The retrieval method retains information on document structure, enabling clear delineation between narrative and financial statement components of reports, and between individual sections within the narratives component. Retrieval accuracy exceeds 95% for manual validations using a random sample of 586 reports. Large-sample statistical validations using a comprehensive sample of reports published by non-financial LSE firms confirm that report length, narrative tone and (to a lesser degree) readability vary predictably with economic and regulatory factors. We demonstrate how the method is adaptable to non-English language documents and different regulatory regimes using a case study of Portuguese reports. We use the procedure to construct new research resources including corpora for commonly occurring annual report sections and a dataset of text properties for over 26,000 U.K. annual reports.

Suggested Citation

  • Mahmoud El-Haj & Paulo Alves & Paul Rayson & Martin Walker & Steven Young, 2020. "Retrieving, classifying and analysing narrative commentary in unstructured (glossy) annual reports published as PDF files," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(1), pages 6-34, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:acctbr:v:50:y:2020:i:1:p:6-34
    DOI: 10.1080/00014788.2019.1609346
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    1. Alkaraan, Fadi & Elmarzouky, Mahmoud & Hussainey, Khaled & Venkatesh, V.G., 2023. "Sustainable strategic investment decision-making practices in UK companies: The influence of governance mechanisms on synergy between industry 4.0 and circular economy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    2. Noha Elberry & Khaled Hussainey, 2021. "Governance Vis-à-Vis Investment Efficiency: Substitutes or Complementary in Their Effects on Disclosure Practice," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, January.
    3. Bassyouny, Hesham & Abdelfattah, Tarek & Tao, Lei, 2020. "Beyond narrative disclosure tone: The upper echelons theory perspective," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    4. Roberto Di Pietra & Stefano Zambon, 2022. "Book Review. Lorenzo Simoni, Business Models and Corporate Reporting: Defining the Platform to Illustrate Value Creation, Routledge, 2022 by Sam Rawsthorne," FINANCIAL REPORTING, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2022(1), pages 167-172.
    5. Bassyouny, Hesham & Abdelfattah, Tarek & Tao, Lei, 2022. "Narrative disclosure tone: A review and areas for future research," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    6. Elshandidy, Tamer & Ahmed, Yousry, 2023. "Stock price informativeness of risk disclosure: Does time orientation matter?," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 149-162.
    7. Giacomo Manetti & Carmela Nitti & Marco Bellucci, 2022. "The accountability of Search and Rescue NGOs," Working Papers - Business wp2022_02.rdf, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Scienze per l'Economia e l'Impresa.
    8. Eduardo Schiehll & Sam Kolahgar, 2021. "Financial materiality in the informativeness of sustainability reporting," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 840-855, February.
    9. Khaldoon Albitar & Tony Abdoush & Khaled Hussainey, 2023. "Do corporate governance mechanisms and ESG disclosure drive CSR narrative tones?," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(4), pages 3876-3890, October.
    10. Danial Hemmings & Lynn Hodgkinson & Gwion Williams, 2020. "It's OK to pay well, if you write well: The effects of remuneration disclosure readability," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(5-6), pages 547-586, May.
    11. Athanasakou, Vasiliki & Boshanna, Abdlmutaleb & Kochetova, Natalia & Voulgaris, Georgios, 2024. "Strategy and business model disclosures in annual reports: The role of legal regime," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(3).

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