Social theorisation of accounting: Challenges to positive research

Trying to delineate the relevance of social theory (broadly defined as an attempt to explain and predict behaviour under certain circumstances) to accounting often provoke responses of despair. A common reaction is to state that accounting has no theory. This has foundation. Apart from those who argue that double entry book-keeping is a theory in itself (a view not shared by the authors, who see it as an equation), accounting lacks a unique theoretical basis. It is often taught and practised as techniques and systems created through trial and error and the experience and pragmatism of practitioners. However, techniques implicitly rest on theory, be it of causes and effects or an understanding of what clients want or need. Given the absence of a distinct accounting theory, one must turn to other social science disciplines to make sense of practices (Hopper and Powell, 1985; Sutton and Staw, 1995).