Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5086522 | Journal of Accounting and Economics | 2017 | 29 Pages |
Abstract
We propose a new measure of readability, the Bog Index, which captures the plain English attributes of disclosure (e.g., active voice, fewer hidden verbs, etc.). We validate this measure using a series of controlled experiments and an archival-based regulatory intervention to prospectus filing readability. We also demonstrate the importance of understanding the underlying drivers of quantity-based measures of readability. In particular, we caution researchers that a vast amount of the variation in Form 10-K file size over time is driven by the inclusion of content unrelated to the underlying text in the 10-K (e.g., HTML, XML, PDFs).
Related Topics
Social Sciences and Humanities
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Accounting
Authors
Samuel B. IV, Andrew J. Leone, Brian P. Miller, Kristina Rennekamp,