Matt Ege, Texas A&M University

Kim Westermann, California Polytechnic University

Mike Wilkins, University of Kansas

In recent years, many researchers have begun broadening their methodological expertise and/or collaborating with researchers with different methodological expertise. In response, AJPT is issuing a Call for Mixed Methods Papers. The purpose of the Call is to provide a forum for research that blends and draws inferences from different methodological approaches.

Studies should use at least two different research methods to gain a more comprehensive answer to the research question(s) being investigated than can be achieved by a single method alone. Studies should give relatively equal weighting to a discussion of the research design choices for each method, and analyses from each method should make significant contributions to the paper. Papers that only present descriptive statistics from a survey or descriptive quotes from a few interviews that are then used to motivate archival analyses would not be considered mixed methods papers under this Call.

Studies using method(s) incorporating human participants must obtain Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval.

Papers will be published in a Special Section as they are accepted, coordinating the timing of acceptances and space availability in individual journal issues.

Potential topics

• Studies using at least two different research methods (e.g., archival, analytical, experimental, interviews, surveys, other) to gain comprehensive answers to research questions
• Research that blends and draws inferences from different methodological approaches
• Studies giving relatively equal weighting to discussion of research design choices for each method
• Analyses from each method making significant contributions to the paper

Timeline

• September 30, 2026: Deadline for submissions

Lori Bhaskar, Indiana University

Tamara Lambert, The University of Manchester

There is a growing concern among academics that publication bias negatively affects our understanding of the phenomena studied. In auditing research, there is also concern that scarce experimental participant resources may be consumed inefficiently by continuing to test theories or research questions that have failed to be supported by data because other researchers are unaware of the respective designs and outcomes.

The Call seeks to counteract distorted inferences that might occur as a result of publication bias. Submissions could demonstrate that a potentially important result in the experimental literature is not reliably replicated or document and explore conditions under which tests that are well-supported by theory deliver results that are unexpected or not statistically significant. Publishing these results will inform the research community about the conditions under which these theories have been tested so that future research can take these designs and findings into account.

The Call aims to help auditing researchers develop a toolbox for designing, analyzing, and reporting experiments in which unexpected or non-significant results nonetheless have inferential value. Submissions could highlight methods for ensuring that a test is adequately powered, constructs are valid, and the design has sufficient internal validity so that a failure to reject the null hypothesis provides reliable information. Submissions should also develop guidelines for inference when results are not statistically significant.

Given the Call's focus on unexpected or non-significant results, submissions must address relevant topics and demonstrate a meaningful contribution to the literature. Editors will pay particular attention to issues such as the theoretical basis for the hypotheses, power and construct validity, and internal validity of the design.

Papers will be published in a Special Section of the journal as they are accepted, coordinating the timing of acceptances and space availability in individual journal issues. Submissions will be screened and assigned to handling editors, who will then assign submissions to two reviewers, consistent with AJPT's standard review process.

Potential topics

• Publication bias and experimental design in auditing research
• Replication of experimental findings and documentation of non-significant results
• Conditions under which theoretically-supported hypotheses yield unexpected or non-statistically significant outcomes
• Methods for ensuring adequate statistical power, construct validity, and internal validity in experiments
• Guidelines for inference and interpretation when results are not statistically significant
• Efficient use of experimental participant resources and research design
• Development of best practices for designing, analyzing, and reporting experiments with non-significant results

Timeline

• August 31, 2027: Deadline for submissions

Matt Ege, Texas A&M University

Tamara Lambert, The University of Manchester

Recent trends in academic research have resulted in longer journal articles and a substantial increase in the length of the academic review process. In 2024, AJPT initiated a Call for shorter papers, resulting in 114 submissions. This is now a second Call for shorter papers that also accommodates (but is not limited to) replications and extensions that generate new insights.

The Call encompasses two general types of high-quality submissions: (1) papers that typically would be standard-length but that intentionally have been shortened to satisfy the requirements of the Call; (2) papers targeting issues that are timely and/or particularly important to the auditing profession that may have a narrower scope and contribution. All research methodologies and auditing topics are welcome.

Submissions should be approximately 20 pages of text (roughly 5,000 words) exclusive of references, appendices, and tables. Submissions should include no more than five or six tables. In most instances, the greatest adjustment relative to a standard-length paper is likely to be in the background and empirical sections. Despite the reduced length, submissions must demonstrate sufficient rigor.

Papers will be published in a Special Section as they are accepted, coordinating the timing of acceptances and space availability in individual journal issues rather than assembling a cohort of papers for publication at a future date. Submissions will be screened and assigned to handling editors by Matt Ege and Tamara Lambert. Handling editors will then assign submissions to two reviewers, consistent with AJPT's standard review process. Given the goals of the Call, an expedited review process is targeted with a goal of decreasing time to publication. Authors will be encouraged to resubmit within three to six months if invited to submit a revision, and editors and reviewers will target a decision after two rounds.

Potential topics

• Papers that intentionally have been shortened from standard-length submissions
• Replications and extensions that generate new insights
• Timely issues particularly important to the auditing profession with narrower scope
• All research methodologies and auditing topics

Timeline

• August 31, 2027: Submission deadline

This special issue invites submissions that provide on-the-ground empirical studies of auditing practices, processes, and institutions in the Majority World countries. We welcome research that examines auditing as it is actually practiced in real-world contexts, moving beyond theoretical frameworks to understand the lived experiences of auditors, audit clients, regulators, and other stakeholders.

Timeline

• December 31, 2027: Full paper submission deadline