Using Verbal Protocol Analysis to Examine the Dilution Effect

• In Event: Auditing 1

Abstract

This study is an exploratory analysis, which uses process tracing to analyze the thought processes of less experienced auditors in making decisions in an environment where a judgment bias occurs – the dilution effect. This study uses a subset of participants from Lombardi (2014) and during the experiment, participants were asked to think loud to gain further insight into the dilution effect. The think aloud process also captures factors about the process of using the expert system, AudEx, which contributed towards the mitigation of this bias. Auditor decision making process with and without the use of an expert system will be captured both within and between the participant groups.

Author

• Danielle Rose Lombardi, Villanova University