Improving management accounting education through the use of interventionist action research

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to improve management accounting education through teacher initiated curriculum innovations using interventionist action research methodology. To achieve this goal, I (the teacher and researcher) designed and implemented a digital feedback system and a digital assessment system in an undergraduate finance course at a business school. The feedback system, which can be tailored to requirement by business teachers, automatically provides individual feedback to students working on problem-solving tasks in a spreadsheet in order to support and improve their engagement and learning. On the foundations of the former innovation, another goal with the study was to develop and implement a digital assessment system supporting teachers when grading digital assignments and examinations in management accounting subjects. The methodology utilized includes many similarities with interventionist action research (IR), which has gained a foothold in qualitative management accounting research. IR focuses on real-world problem solving and the overall goal of contributing to theory building.