No. 86: Mobilizing text as data

Abstract

We discuss how researchers in finance and accounting can take advantage of textual analysis methods using examples from recent work. Three insights emerge from this discussion: accounting researchers can contribute to a broader debate in economics and related fields using their deep knowledge of corporate disclosures as well as their training in measurement, think about the trade-off between simple and sophisticated tools in the choice of textual analysis methods, and report on text-based empirical work effectively to build credibility for impact. We conclude by suggesting some paths for future research.