The Association between Academic Pedigree and Research Article

• In Event: Teaching, Learning & Curriculum 1
  In Paper Session: Teaching, Learning & Curriculum I

Abstract

Accounting faculty generally encourage prospective accounting doctoral students to (1) attend the highest quality PhD program to which they are admitted, and (2) accept a faculty position at the highest quality accounting program from which they receive a job offer. Current faculty offer this advice with limited empirical evidence documenting whether graduating from or being employed at a top-25 accounting PhD program are associated with publication success in the top-6 accounting journals. Our study directly examines the association between academic pedigree (i.e., graduating from or being employed at a top-25 accounting PhD program) and publication success in the top-6 accounting journals from 1990-2011. We find significant associations between 1) published articles and whether faculty graduated from top-25 accounting programs, 2) published articles and whether faculty were employed at top-25 accounting PhD programs, and 3) published articles and whether faculty jointly graduated from and were employed at top-25 accounting programs. Thus, this study helps prospective and current PhD students make relevant career-related decisions regarding PhD programs and initial placements.

Authors

• Donald Lamar Ariail, Southern Polytechnic State University

• Mark C. Dawkins, University of Georgia

• Natasha Burns, The University of Texas at San Antonio

• Matthew M. Wieland, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis