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Investigating presentational change in U.K. annual reports: a longitudinal perspective

Beattie, Vivien, Dhanani, Alpa Virji ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2504-2616 and Jones, Michael John 2008. Investigating presentational change in U.K. annual reports: a longitudinal perspective. Journal of Business Communication 45 (2) , pp. 181-222. 10.1177/0021943607313993

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Abstract

This article examines structural and format changes in annual reports of U.K. listed companies from 1965 to 2004 with a particular focus on graph use. The article compares a new sample of 2004 annual reports with preexisting samples by Lee and by Beattie and Jones. Lee's identified trends continue. There has been a sharp increase in page length, voluntary information, and narrative information, particularly among large listed companies. A detailed analysis of voluntary disclosure indicates changes in the incidence and pattern of generic sections. Graph usage is now universal. However, key financial graph use has slightly declined, replaced by graphs depicting other operating issues. Impression management through selectivity, graphical measurement distortion, and manipulation of the length of time series graphed are common. Overall, annual reports continue to exhibit many features of public relations documents rather than financially driven, statutory documents, and the analysis of graph usage suggests a need for policy guidelines to protect users.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Business (Including Economics)
Subjects: D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D204 Modern History
D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain
H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions
H Social Sciences > HF Commerce
H Social Sciences > HG Finance
J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) > JN101 Great Britain
Uncontrolled Keywords: Annual report ; Graphs ; Impression management ; Longitudinal study ; Narratives ; Pictures
Publisher: Sage
ISSN: 0021-9439
Last Modified: 19 Oct 2022 08:47
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/19030

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