Exploring the quality of corporate environmental reporting: Surveying preparers’ and users’ perceptions
Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal
ISSN: 0951-3574
Article publication date: 19 December 2018
Issue publication date: 15 January 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a multidimensional model for assessing the quality of corporate environmental reporting (CER) incorporating both preparer- and user-based views.
Design/methodology/approach
As opposed to frequently used researcher-chosen proxies, the authors used an online questionnaire asking preparers and users how they assess the quality of a company’s environmental report.
Findings
The analysis of the responses of 177 users and 86 preparers shows that quantity was not perceived as the most significant element in determining quality. Besides quantity, the respondents also perceived information types, measures used, themes disclosed, adopting reporting guidelines, inclusion of assurance statement and the use of visual tools as significant dimensions/features of reporting quality.
Research limitations/implications
The online questionnaire has some limitations, especially in terms of researcher being absent to clarify meanings and, hence, possibilities that respondents may misinterpret the questionnaire elements.
Practical implications
Considering that robust, reliable measurement of reporting quality is difficult, preparers, standard setters and policy makers need multidimensional quality models that incorporate both users’ perceptions of quality and preparers’ pragmatic understanding of the quality delivery process. These will make the preparers informed of whether their disclosure may be falling short of users’ expectations.
Originality/value
Amid, increasing complexity of CER, the research contributes to the growing body of literature on assessing the quality of CER by developing a less subjective, multidimensional, preparer–user-based quality model. This innovative quality model goes beyond the traditional quality models, subjective author-based quality measures. Focussing on the three dimensions of reporting quality – content, credibility and communication – it also offers a high-level resolution of meaning of CER quality.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the editor (Professor Lee Parker) and the anonymous reviewers of the journal for their constructive comments and valuable suggestions on earlier versions of the paper. The first author also acknowledges the financial support of Damanhour University, Egypt.
Citation
Helfaya, A., Whittington, M. and Alawattage, C. (2019), "Exploring the quality of corporate environmental reporting: Surveying preparers’ and users’ perceptions", Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp. 163-193. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-04-2015-2023
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited