Paradoxes, Simplifications, and Common Mistakes in the Introductory Financial Accounting Course

• In Event: Teaching Financial Accounting

Abstract

This paper describes several issues that students often encounter when learning financial accounting that seem contradictory, difficult to understand, or are common mistakes that can be avoided. The paper provides assistance to both faculty and students in identifying areas that will be more difficult to learn and thus require special attention as well as techniques that can be employed to be more successful in the classroom. Since the introductory financial accounting course is generally a core requirement in most business programs, this paper should be of interest to instructors who are teaching the course, especially to non-accounting and non-business majors who often have difficulty comprehending the subject matter.

Author

• John A Schatzel, Stonehill College