THE EFFECT OF EDUCATION ON THE AUDIT EXPECTATION GAP

TLDR

The study investigates how education influences students’ perceptions of audit report meaning and auditors’ responsibilities. Using semantic differential scales, the authors surveyed final‑year accounting students in an auditing unit and marketing students without such exposure at semester start and end, along with auditors. Results indicate that education can narrow or eliminate the audit expectation gap.

Abstract

Abstract: This paper examines the effect of education on students' perceptions of the meaning of audit reports and the responsibilities and duties of auditors. A research instrument, utilising semantic differential scales designed to measure the messages communicated through audit reports, was administered to two groups of undergraduate students at the beginning and end of a semester and to auditors. The experimental group consisted of final year undergraduate accounting students enrolled in their first auditing unit. The control group consisted of final year undergraduate marketing students not enrolled in the auditing unit. The results of the study suggest that education may be an effective approach to narrowing or eliminating the audit expectation gap.