Table 2.

Journal article categorisation scheme

Analytical dimensionCategoryDescriptionCategory purpose
Sampling attributes1. Scope of studyWhether the study is cross-industry or industry-specificProvide context
2. Sector focusWhether the study focuses on private, public or non-profit sector (including universities)
Methodological approaches3. Geographical scope of analysisWhich country or countries disclosures are examined in the study and whether the analysis in the paper focuses on one country or multiple countries
4. Research methodThe research method/s used for data collection
5. Documents analysedThe type of documents analysed (e.g., annual reports, sustainability reports, webpages, etc.)
Authorship and affiliation6. Author affiliation (policymaker)Whether any of the authors of the article is affiliated with a regulatory body or industry association
7. Author affiliation (practitioner)Whether any of the authors of the article is a practitioner (not affiliated with an academic institution)
Content and policy implications8. Sustainability subthemesWhether the study focuses on environmental, social or governance aspectsRelevance to policymaking
9. Main topic of the paperThe main topic of focus of the paper determined based on the main research question or the purpose of the study
10. Temporality of recommendationsWhether the research implications concern an existing policy (ex-post research) or inform the development of new policy (ex ante research)
11. Statement of policy implication in the abstractWhether the authors identified policy implications resulting from their findings in the abstractAccessibility to policymakers
12. ReadabilityFlesch-Kincaid grade level; automated readability index; and gunning fog scoreUnderstandability (i.e., clarity and conciseness) of communication
13. Article lengthLength of the article measured by the number of words and average words per sentence
14. Nature of insights provided for policymakingWhether the findings relate to: (1) negative/positive consequences of an existing practice; (2) determinants/impediments of an existing practice; (3) status of an existing practice; and (4) stakeholder views about an existing practiceActionability of policy recommendations
15. Nature of policy recommendationsWhether the policy implications discussed in the paper are calling for new regulation or refinement/repeal of existing regulation
16. Target audience for policy implicationsIdentification of the intended beneficiaries of research findings, categorised into policymakers, report preparers, report users, accounting professionals or accounting educators
17. Beneficiary organisationIdentification of the specific organisation/s (e.g. GRI, SASB, etc.) that would benefit from the policy implications flowing from the research findings
18. Policy choicesIdentification of specific policy choice or choices for which the paper’s findings contribute
19. Specificity of recommendationsWhether the authors provide specific actionable recommendations or make broad claims about the way their findings might be useful
Source(s): Authors’ own work

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