Reviews the book "The Elusive Art of Accounting," by Howard Ross.

The public's formulation of its interests will not automatically respond to new problems or changed environments. Thus, something or someone must act as catalyst in this process. A clear example of how political leaders have caused a shift in the public interest can be found in the shift from "isolationism" to "internationalism" from the late 1930's to the present. Most persons now consider that the interests of peoples throughout the world are related to their own and evaluate foreign and domestic policies on that basis. Even closer to day-to-day activities, the generally accepted idea that certain information about business progress and position of publicly owned companies should be revealed to all has come to be accepted as in the public interest only in relatively recent times. It is the position taken here that both these changes came about in large measure because of the political education activities of "far-sighted" individuals who were simultaneously trying to act as an interpreter of the public interest in a capacity of decision maker.

Reviews the book "Theory of Accounting Measurement," by Yuji Ijiri.

The article provides information on an alternative research methodology course for a master's degree in accounting. With the advent of a more generalized business degree at the master's level, the requirement of a master's thesis has become less common. As a result, many master's degree students never have the opportunity of performing an extensive independent research effort under faculty supervision. The problems facing practicing accountants of the future promise to be increasingly complex. A course providing experience in the employment of investigative techniques may assist the future accountant in analyzing these problems and in developing and appraising alternative solutions to them. The illustrative readings are used to add an accounting perspective to the topic being considered. These illustrative articles were selected in an attempt to put the basic ideas into a context more relevant to the student's interest. Hopefully this background will enable the future practitioner to evaluate the research of others. An ancillary benefit may be provided for those students who choose to contribute to the literature. They should have a stronger methodological base for doing so.