Perceived Obstacles to Conducting and Publishing Practice-Relevant Academic Accounting Research

Abstract

ABSTRACT If academic accounting research is not of interest to practicing accountants and regulators, public interest wanes, the academy becomes an echo chamber of its own ideas, and researchers risk relevancy and financial support. To provide insight about the obstacles perceived to reduce the likelihood that accounting academics will publish practice-relevant research in academic journals, we sent a survey to more than 5,600 U.S. accounting faculty members. Based on 567 survey responses, we identify eight obstacles that the survey respondents believe reduce the likelihood that they will publish practice-relevant research. The most frequently reported obstacle is that academic journal editors are not interested in publishing practice-related research (77 percent of survey respondents). We also provide evidence that the more academics interact with practitioners, the more likely they are to conduct and publish practice-relevant academic research. Recommendations and observations are included to help address the identified obstacles.