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South African financial reporting students' reading comprehension of the IASB Conceptual Framework

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  • Janse van Rensburg, Cecile
  • Coetzee, Stephen A.
  • Schmulian, Astrid

Abstract

Students studying principles-based IFRS require a thorough knowledge and understanding of the IASB's Conceptual Framework (Framework). Reading comprehension of the Framework enables students to access and decode its content. This allows the development of the ability to analyze, critique, evaluate and synthesize the content. The objective of this study was to evaluate students' reading comprehension of the Framework using the Cloze procedure. Researchers have questioned whether there should be different assessments of reading comprehension for different demographic groups. This paper explores differences in the reading comprehension of a diverse cohort of South African financial reporting students. Many students demonstrated reading comprehension at the Independent or Instructional Level. Further analysis revealed statistically significant differences between reading comprehension by language of instruction and the attendance, or not, of prior reading courses. While this study considers South African students, the results may be of interest to instructors in other multiracial or multilingual environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Janse van Rensburg, Cecile & Coetzee, Stephen A. & Schmulian, Astrid, 2014. "South African financial reporting students' reading comprehension of the IASB Conceptual Framework," Journal of Accounting Education, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 1-15.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joaced:v:32:y:2014:i:4:p:1-15
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccedu.2014.10.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Bernice Beukes & Marina Kirstein & Rolien Kunz & Lynette Nagel, 2018. "Innovators to laggards – how South African students adopted and perceived technologically enhanced learning," Accounting Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(5), pages 513-530, September.
    3. Apostolou, Barbara & Dorminey, Jack W. & Hassell, John M. & Rebele, James E., 2015. "Accounting education literature review (2013–2014)," Journal of Accounting Education, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 69-127.

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