It Takes a Village: Networks of Support Underlying Publications in a Major Accounting Journal

• In Event: Teaching, Learning and Curriculum 2

Abstract

The conventional wisdom in academic accounting endorses efforts by authors to solicit comments prior to submitting papers for publication at major journals. This leads to the belief that success is the result of the combined efforts of many. This paper turns attention to support networks beyond the authors’ employing institutions. We suspect that some networks of support might be more valuable than others. Using the data of article acknowledgements from 2016 to 2021 in one of the discipline’s most desired journals, this paper documents a persistent set of schools and individuals who could be viewed as the vital networks of support in academic accounting. The results show that support from high prestige institutions and select members of their faculty is differentially important to many. Results shows that the best support comes from the most successful individuals. Although the results show some journal-based variation in these assistance networks, the commonality of key facilitators is the better interpretation. This group reinforces in group members and may make research contributions from those outside this group less likely.

Authors

• Timothy J Fogarty, Case Western Reserve University

• R. Drew Sellers, Kent State University

• Jadallah Azmi Jadallah, Saginaw Valley State University