Empirically Investigating the Presence of Positive Accounting Research as the Meta- Theory for Accounting Academics: Further Evidence from Saudi Arabia

This study empirically explores the extent to which accounting academics in Saudi Arabia apply the agency theory conceptually and methodologically. All accounting academics in Saudi Arabia have been awarded decorates abroad from various institutions worldwide, making them suitable subjects to investigate whether they are dominated by positive accounting methodology to assess its global impact. Fifty respondents volunteered to take a web-based questionnaire. Almost reaching an agreement that agency theory originated in accounting conventions, sampled accounting academics concur that such a theory is an accounting theory. Controversially, while they agree with the propositions of Jensen and Meckling (1976), they are unsure that agency theory is the most suitable theory for accounting research and is undecided in deeming the view that CEOs as agents and shareholders as principals is the only correct way to build an understanding of the nature of the corporation. They are generally aware of the positive accounting methodology and are exposed to it in their doctoral studies. Not constraining accounting inquiry to phenomena that behave rationally, they nonetheless assume rationality in almost all observed behavior in accounting.