IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/joaced/v64y2023ics0748575123000301.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A mental model approach to teaching database querying skills with SQL and Alteryx

Author

Listed:
  • Lee, Lorraine
  • Casterella, Gretchen

Abstract

This paper describes an instructional approach and exercises to introduce a data analytics tool into an existing course that covers relational databases and structured query language (SQL). SQL and relational databases are traditional topics in many AIS classes and are frequently taught with established technologies such as Microsoft Access. With the onset of newer data analytics tools, educators are faced with the challenge of incorporating emerging technologies while still covering basic foundational concepts. In this paper, we position SQL as the mental model for learning the data preparation and data blending features of a popular analytics tool, Alteryx. We split the traditional SQL content from our course into four increments that increase in complexity. For each increment, we use a multi-step approach to first develop students’ mental model of the SQL query code and then apply the mental model to the new environment of Alteryx. For each increment, students solve the same set of problems in SQL and Alteryx, so that the understanding of SQL eases the transition to Alteryx, and the practice in Alteryx reinforces the understanding of SQL.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee, Lorraine & Casterella, Gretchen, 2023. "A mental model approach to teaching database querying skills with SQL and Alteryx," Journal of Accounting Education, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:joaced:v:64:y:2023:i:c:s0748575123000301
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccedu.2023.100858
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0748575123000301
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jaccedu.2023.100858?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Knechel, W. Robert & Salterio, Steven E. & Kochetova-Kozloski, Natalia, 2010. "The effect of benchmarked performance measures and strategic analysis on auditors' risk assessments and mental models," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 316-333, April.
    2. Hall, Matthew, 2011. "Do comprehensive performance measurement systems help or hinder managers' mental model development?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 36703, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cheng, Mandy M. & Humphreys, Kerry A. & Zhang, Yichelle Y., 2018. "The interplay between strategic risk profiles and presentation format on managers' strategic judgments using the balanced scorecard," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 92-105.
    2. Luippold, Benjamin L. & Kida, Thomas & Piercey, M. David & Smith, James F., 2015. "Managing audits to manage earnings: The impact of diversions on an auditor’s detection of earnings management," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 39-54.
    3. Anja Heinicke, 2018. "Performance measurement systems in small and medium-sized enterprises and family firms: a systematic literature review," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 457-502, February.
    4. Cäker, Mikael & Siverbo, Sven, 2018. "Effects of performance measurement system inconsistency on managers’ role clarity and well-being," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 256-266.
    5. Lisa-Marie Wibbeke & Maik Lachmann, 2020. "Psychology in management accounting and control research: an overview of the recent literature," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 31(3), pages 275-328, September.
    6. Patrizia Di Tullio & Matteo La Torre & Diego Valentinetti & Michele A. Rea, 2021. "Toward performance measurement systems based on business models," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2021(suppl. 1), pages 97-122.
    7. Lasse Niemi & W. Robert Knechel & Hannu Ojala & Jill Collis, 2018. "Responsiveness of Auditors to the Audit Risk Standards: Unique Evidence from Big 4 Audit Firms," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 33-54, January.
    8. Michael E. Cummings & Hans Rawhouser & Silvio Vismara & Erin L. Hamilton, 2020. "An equity crowdfunding research agenda: evidence from stakeholder participation in the rulemaking process," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 54(4), pages 907-932, April.
    9. Bedford, David S. & Bisbe, Josep & Sweeney, Breda, 2019. "Performance measurement systems as generators of cognitive conflict in ambidextrous firms," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 21-37.
    10. Jacqueline Christensen & Pamela Kent & Tom Smith, 2016. "The decision to outsource risk management services," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 56(4), pages 985-1015, December.
    11. Sophie Hoozée & Falconer Mitchell, 2018. "Who Influences the Design of Management Accounting Systems? An Exploratory Study," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 28(3), pages 374-390, September.
    12. Sharul Effendy Janudin & Farahaini Mohd Hanif & Noor Shafeeza Zainuddin, 2016. "Developing Contemporary Performance Measurement System Performance Model for Co-operatives in Malaysia: Is it Necessary?," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 6(11), pages 436-448, November.
    13. Wright, William F., 2016. "Client business models, process business risks and the risk of material misstatement of revenue," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 43-55.
    14. Nitzl, Christian, 2016. "The use of partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) in management accounting research: Directions for future theory development," Journal of Accounting Literature, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 19-35.
    15. Hadid, Wael & Hamdan, Mohammed, 2022. "Firm size and cost system sophistication: The role of firm age," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(2).
    16. Huikku, Jari & Karjalainen, Jouko & Seppälä, Tomi, 2018. "The dynamism of pre-decision controls in the appraisal of strategic investments," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 50(5), pages 516-538.
    17. Macinati, Manuela S. & Bozzi, Stefano & Rizzo, Marco Giovanni, 2016. "Budgetary participation and performance: The mediating effects of medical managers’ job engagement and self-efficacy," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(9), pages 1017-1028.
    18. Maurizio Massaro & Filippo Zanin & Roland Bardy, 2014. "Levers of control and knowledge sharing in alliances among Large Firms and Small Firms in the pharmaceutical industry," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2014(2), pages 121-142.
    19. Bedford, David & Bisbe, Josep & Sweeney, Breda, 2022. "Enhancing external knowledge search: The influence of performance measurement system design on the absorptive capacity of top management teams," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    20. Green, Wendy J. & Cheng, Mandy M., 2019. "Materiality judgments in an integrated reporting setting: The effect of strategic relevance and strategy map," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 1-14.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:joaced:v:64:y:2023:i:c:s0748575123000301. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-accounting-education .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.