On May 24, 2023, participants were treated to an enlightening seminar titled ‘Interdisciplinary Research in Accounting: Fact or Fiction?’ The venue, T2-102, buzzed with intellectual energy from 13:30 to 15:00 as Prof. Steven Dellaportas, a respected authority in the filed of accounting, shared invaluable insights on the role of interdisciplinary research.

Dr. Man Hung Alvin CHENG Presented Souvenir to Prof. Dellaportas

With an illustrious academic career spanning over three decades, Prof. Dellaportas has been a guiding force in the realm of accounting. Renowned for his extensive work on professional ethics, Prof. Dellaportas, who has served as Co-Editor of the Accounting Section for the prestigious Journal of Business Ethics, author of numerous articles in internationally acclaimed peer-reviewed journals, led the seminar with remarkable insight and expertise.

During the seminar, Prof. Dellaportas unravelled the intricate dynamics of Interdisciplinary Research (IDR) in accounting. He distinguished between IDR, multi-disciplinary research, and trans-disciplinary research, offering valuable insights into the interplay of these concepts in shaping modern accounting research.

Prof. Dellaportas’s lecture

The seminar took an even deeper dive when Prof. Dellaportas presented a comprehensive analysis of 1,462 articles published between 2005 and 2016. This review, conducted at the manuscript level, enabled a meticulous exploration of IDR’s key characteristics, providing attendees with a holistic understanding of the subject.

A highlight of the seminar was the captivating discussion about the correlation between citations, integration dimensions, and interaction dimensions. Prof. Dellaportas’ findings revealed an impactful relationship that provoked exciting conversations about the value of interdisciplinary research in the accounting field.

Following the presentation, an engaging Q&A session spurred by Dr. Tao Huang from the Faculty of Business and Management led to a thought-provoking dialogue about the universality of multi-disciplinary research and the wider applicability of Prof. Dellaportas’ findings. In response, Prof. Dellaportas acknowledged that his research is currently limited to the accounting field, prompting interest in future explorations in other fields such as finance and economics.

Prof. Dellaportas Answered the Questions

The seminar offered a captivating journey into the heart of interdisciplinary research within the accounting sector. Led by industry trailblazer, Prof. Steven Dellaportas, the event reflected the dynamic dialogue and evolution in the field of accounting.