Popper's Methodology of Falsificationism and Accounting Research.

ABSTRACT: Poppers falsificationism is apparently being adopted as an Ideal by accounting researchers. For example, Christenson [1983] has criticized Watts and Zimmerman's [1978, 1979] theories for not conforming to Poppers approach. This paper argues that Poppers falsificationism should not be viewed as an attainable ideal by accounting researchers, and that standard of rigor and research and experimental design are sufficient to support Christenson's criticisms without recourse to Poppers methodology.