Graphical and textual presentations in financial reports

Seedwell T. M. Sithole

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperChapterpeer-review

Abstract

The use of separate graphs and texts to disclose information is a frequent occurrence in corporate annual reports. Multiple sources of information does not enhance understanding of users of financial statements. This chapter compares spatially separated text and graphs with integrated presentations that aim at bringing text and graphs as close as possible to each other. The chapter begins by illustrating the concept of split attention. Cognitive load arises when disparate sources of accounting information need to be mentally integrated by users. An experiment using separate text and diagrams is then presented to demonstrate how participants can deal with cognitive overload when reading split-attention material. Using two instructional design formats, the split-attention format and the integrated format, first-year accounting students were used as surrogates for financial report user groups such as employees and shareholders. The presence of the split-attention effect in the financial accounting material was established. Effective use of text and diagrams in integrated reporting helps integrated thinking and assists the interconnectedness of information. The findings suggest that redesigning financial reports by integrating text and diagrams may make effective use of the available cognitive resources and possibly enhance investors and other stakeholders’ decision-making process.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAccounting and Corporate Reporting: Today and Tomorrow
EditorsSoner Gokten
Place of PublicationU.K.
PublisherInTech
Pages223-235
Number of pages14
ISBN (Electronic)9789535135500
ISBN (Print)9789535135494
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Open Access - Access Right Statement

© 2017 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Keywords

  • accounting
  • financial statements

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