Home  Journals  International Accounting  6(504) - 2023 June

The structure of accounting theory. Part 2

Received: 23 March 2023

Received in revised form: 10 April 2023

Accepted: 17 April 2023

Available online: 15 June 2023

Subject Heading: THEORY OF ACCOUNTING

JEL Classification: B15, M41

Pages: 596–619

https://doi.org/10.24891/ia.26.6.596

Subject. This article examines the main approaches to the construction of the theory of accounting, namely the inductive and deductive ones.
Objectives. The article aims to identify the advantages and disadvantages of each of the approaches, analyze the structure of the theory of accounting in detail, and identify it at the present stage of development of accounting as a science discipline.
Methods. For the study, I used combinations of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, and historical and logical research methods.
Results. The article defines the structure of the theory of accounting that includes the objectives of financial reporting, postulates and theoretical concepts of accounting, as well as the principles and techniques of accounting.
Conclusions and Relevance. The article concludes that of the two existing approaches to the construction of the theory of accounting, the inductive approach has a number of significant drawbacks that do not allow building a full-fledged theory of accounting. The deductive approach also has a number of drawbacks associated with understanding the axiomatic basis and the inference rules, but it helps lay the scientific foundations for building a complete and consistent theory of accounting. The results obtained can be used to create the theory of accounting.

Keywords: accounting theory, accounting methodology, accounting postulates, accounting principles, accounting methods, theory construction, inductive approach, deductive approach

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