Exploring the Use of Computer Based Exams for Undergraduate Accounting

This paper explores the use of computer-based exams (CBEs) for undergraduate accounting. The primary objective of writing this paper was to establish whether CBEs should be integrated with paper-based exams as a summative assessment in undergraduate accounting modules. Professional accounting organi...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Anne Hurley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Technological University Dublin 2017-01-01
Series:Irish Journal of Academic Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijap/vol6/iss1/8/
_version_ 1819025999394766848
author Anne Hurley
author_facet Anne Hurley
author_sort Anne Hurley
collection DOAJ
description This paper explores the use of computer-based exams (CBEs) for undergraduate accounting. The primary objective of writing this paper was to establish whether CBEs should be integrated with paper-based exams as a summative assessment in undergraduate accounting modules. Professional accounting organisations and universities and colleges in Ireland were contacted to establish whether CBEs had been adopted and, if so, to take relevant lessons from their experience. The literature reviewed the experiences of students, academics, institutions and professional accounting organisations using CBEs worldwide. Findings from this desk-based research indicated an overall positive experience with CBEs. The professional accounting organisations are continuing to adopt CBEs as a method of assessment, with one professional accounting organisation adopting CBEs for examinations across their entire syllabus. In contrast, four of nine third level institutions in Ireland use CBEs. CBEs are not unique to professional accounting organisations. The adoption of CBEs in undergraduate accounting is an area that needs further exploration. This will help determine best practice to facilitate students who wish to pursue a career in accountancy, and support completion of the professional accounting exams. An area for further research is to interview academics to hear their reasons for not adopting CBEs, and to survey the student experience of CBEs for post-undergraduate and post-professional accounting.
first_indexed 2024-12-21T05:19:36Z
format Article
id doaj.art-c13f733b88364127abaf904cecc2044c
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2009-7387
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-21T05:19:36Z
publishDate 2017-01-01
publisher Technological University Dublin
record_format Article
series Irish Journal of Academic Practice
spelling doaj.art-c13f733b88364127abaf904cecc2044c2022-12-21T19:14:51ZengTechnological University DublinIrish Journal of Academic Practice2009-73872017-01-016110.21427/D71Q7DExploring the Use of Computer Based Exams for Undergraduate AccountingAnne HurleyThis paper explores the use of computer-based exams (CBEs) for undergraduate accounting. The primary objective of writing this paper was to establish whether CBEs should be integrated with paper-based exams as a summative assessment in undergraduate accounting modules. Professional accounting organisations and universities and colleges in Ireland were contacted to establish whether CBEs had been adopted and, if so, to take relevant lessons from their experience. The literature reviewed the experiences of students, academics, institutions and professional accounting organisations using CBEs worldwide. Findings from this desk-based research indicated an overall positive experience with CBEs. The professional accounting organisations are continuing to adopt CBEs as a method of assessment, with one professional accounting organisation adopting CBEs for examinations across their entire syllabus. In contrast, four of nine third level institutions in Ireland use CBEs. CBEs are not unique to professional accounting organisations. The adoption of CBEs in undergraduate accounting is an area that needs further exploration. This will help determine best practice to facilitate students who wish to pursue a career in accountancy, and support completion of the professional accounting exams. An area for further research is to interview academics to hear their reasons for not adopting CBEs, and to survey the student experience of CBEs for post-undergraduate and post-professional accounting.https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijap/vol6/iss1/8/higher educationassessmentundergraduatesAccountingcomputer-based exams (CBE)
spellingShingle Anne Hurley
Exploring the Use of Computer Based Exams for Undergraduate Accounting
Irish Journal of Academic Practice
higher education
assessment
undergraduates
Accounting
computer-based exams (CBE)
title Exploring the Use of Computer Based Exams for Undergraduate Accounting
title_full Exploring the Use of Computer Based Exams for Undergraduate Accounting
title_fullStr Exploring the Use of Computer Based Exams for Undergraduate Accounting
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Use of Computer Based Exams for Undergraduate Accounting
title_short Exploring the Use of Computer Based Exams for Undergraduate Accounting
title_sort exploring the use of computer based exams for undergraduate accounting
topic higher education
assessment
undergraduates
Accounting
computer-based exams (CBE)
url https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijap/vol6/iss1/8/
work_keys_str_mv AT annehurley exploringtheuseofcomputerbasedexamsforundergraduateaccounting