Conjuring a Reality: The Magic of the Practice of Accounting
Purpose: Recently, magic has been given increasing attention by psychologists for what it can reveal about how the human cognitive system works. This paper examines whether these same cognitive processes are at play in another arena, specifi cally, the presentation of financial accounting� informati...
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Kozminski University
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doaj-64946ca4eb7740f38e76cea5ed95df9c2020-11-24T22:42:42ZengKozminski UniversityManagement and Business Administration. Central Europe2084-33562014-09-0122331710.7206/mba.ce.2084-3356.104Conjuring a Reality: The Magic of the Practice of AccountingStacy A. Mastrolia0Piotr Zielonka1Elton G. McGoun2School of Management, Bucknell UniversityWarsaw University of Life SciencesSchool of Management, Bucknell UniversityPurpose: Recently, magic has been given increasing attention by psychologists for what it can reveal about how the human cognitive system works. This paper examines whether these same cognitive processes are at play in another arena, specifi cally, the presentation of financial accounting� information. Approach: The authors reviewed the fi ndings of cognitive scientists from their studies of magicians and applied these to the activities of professional accountants. Findings: Specifi c cognitive processes which magicians and accountants take advantage of, explicitly for one and implicitly for the other, are the same: good continuation, habituation, and attentional capture. Value: Further research regarding such interactions between accounting and cognition has potential for enhancing our understanding of both. Certainly at this particular point in accounting history, as standard setters seem to be moving ever closer to implementing some version of a principles-based accounting regime versus our current rules-based accounting regime, it is worthwhile to contemplate the conscious and subconscious effects of cognitive processes on how individuals perceive financial information.http://mbace.eu/fulltxt.php?ICID=1124629magicillusionaccountingconjuringfinancial informationPerception |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Stacy A. Mastrolia Piotr Zielonka Elton G. McGoun |
spellingShingle |
Stacy A. Mastrolia Piotr Zielonka Elton G. McGoun Conjuring a Reality: The Magic of the Practice of Accounting Management and Business Administration. Central Europe magic illusion accounting conjuring financial information Perception |
author_facet |
Stacy A. Mastrolia Piotr Zielonka Elton G. McGoun |
author_sort |
Stacy A. Mastrolia |
title |
Conjuring a Reality: The Magic of the Practice of Accounting |
title_short |
Conjuring a Reality: The Magic of the Practice of Accounting |
title_full |
Conjuring a Reality: The Magic of the Practice of Accounting |
title_fullStr |
Conjuring a Reality: The Magic of the Practice of Accounting |
title_full_unstemmed |
Conjuring a Reality: The Magic of the Practice of Accounting |
title_sort |
conjuring a reality: the magic of the practice of accounting |
publisher |
Kozminski University |
series |
Management and Business Administration. Central Europe |
issn |
2084-3356 |
publishDate |
2014-09-01 |
description |
Purpose: Recently, magic has been given increasing attention by psychologists for what it can reveal about how the human cognitive system works. This paper examines whether these same cognitive processes are at play in another arena, specifi cally, the presentation of financial accounting� information.
Approach: The authors reviewed the fi ndings of cognitive scientists from their studies of magicians and applied these to the activities of professional accountants.
Findings: Specifi c cognitive processes which magicians and accountants take advantage of, explicitly for one and implicitly for the other, are the same: good continuation, habituation, and attentional capture.
Value: Further research regarding such interactions between accounting and cognition has potential for enhancing our understanding of both. Certainly at this particular point in accounting history, as standard setters seem to be moving ever closer to implementing some version of a principles-based accounting regime versus our current rules-based accounting regime, it is worthwhile to contemplate the conscious and subconscious effects of cognitive processes on how individuals perceive financial information. |
topic |
magic illusion accounting conjuring financial information Perception |
url |
http://mbace.eu/fulltxt.php?ICID=1124629 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT stacyamastrolia conjuringarealitythemagicofthepracticeofaccounting AT piotrzielonka conjuringarealitythemagicofthepracticeofaccounting AT eltongmcgoun conjuringarealitythemagicofthepracticeofaccounting |
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