The Accounting, Governance, and Sustainability (AGS) Research Group at the School of Finance and Accounting, Westminster Business School, proudly hosted an engaging research workshop titled Textual Analysis in Accounting and Business Research. Delivered by Dr Mahmoud Elmarzouky, Director of Research at the University of St Andrews, the workshop brought together 77 participants from a wide range of institutions, including Aston University, Leeds University, Kingston University, St Andrews University, and Westminster International University in Tashkent.
This highly interactive session offered both conceptual depth and practical application, introducing attendees to advanced methods of textual analysis and their relevance in the field of accounting and business research. Participants gained valuable insights into qualitative and quantitative approaches to analysing corporate disclosures, financial narratives, and regulatory communications.
The workshop demonstrated how textual analysis can reveal patterns, sentiment, and strategic messaging in corporate reporting, moving beyond simple storytelling to a more nuanced understanding of how companies communicate. Dr Elmarzouky also showcased key tools, such as Nvivo, LancsBox, and CFIE, to guide participants through real-world applications of automated textual analysis.
Key topics explored:
- Narrative disclosure and core textual analysis methodologies
- Application of automated tools in large-scale textual analysis
- Index-based approaches to measuring disclosure quality
- Frequency analysis to detect trends in financial reporting
- AI and machine learning applications in textual research
- Key databases and corpora for financial textual data
- Best practices in interpreting and presenting textual findings
Open to academic staff and doctoral students across disciplines, this workshop provided practical skills and innovative perspectives for those new to textual analysis as well as those seeking to expand their methodological repertoire. It offered a unique opportunity to explore the evolving landscape of data-driven financial research through the lens of corporate narrative analysis.
