A Scientometric Analysis of Audit Quality Studies Using VOSviewer
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58812/wsaf.v3i02.2079Keywords:
Audit Quality, Scientometric Analysis, VOSviewerAbstract
This study presents a scientometric analysis of global audit quality research published between 2000 and 2025, employing VOSviewer to visualize and interpret the intellectual and thematic structure of the field. Using bibliographic data from the Scopus database, the study explores co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence, country collaborations, and temporal trends. The results reveal a strong concentration of research in developed economies, particularly the United States, Australia, and Germany, while emerging economies are gradually entering the discourse through international collaboration. Core research themes include audit fees, auditor independence, corporate governance, and earnings management, while recent developments highlight the growing relevance of artificial intelligence, corporate social responsibility, and key audit matters. The temporal and density visualizations indicate a shift from traditional audit concerns to more strategic, ethical, and technological dimensions. This study offers a comprehensive roadmap for future research, supporting scholars, practitioners, and policymakers in navigating and expanding the audit quality knowledge base.
References
[1] J. R. Francis, “What do we know about audit quality?,” Br. Account. Rev., vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 345–368, 2004.
[2] A. L. Watkins, W. Hillison, and S. E. Morecroft, “Audit quality: A synthesis of theory and empirical evidence,” J. Account. Lit., vol. 23, p. 153, 2004.
[3] L. E. DeAngelo, “Auditor size and audit quality,” J. Account. Econ., vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 183–199, 1981.
[4] T. C. Wooten, “Research about audit quality,” CPA J., vol. 73, no. 1, p. 48, 2003.
[5] S. Rajgopal, S. Srinivasan, and X. Zheng, “Measuring audit quality,” Rev. Account. Stud., vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 559–619, 2021.
[6] N. Donthu, S. Kumar, D. Mukherjee, N. Pandey, and W. M. Lim, “How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines,” J. Bus. Res., vol. 133, pp. 285–296, 2021.
[7] N. Van Eck and L. Waltman, “Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping,” Scientometrics, vol. 84, no. 2, pp. 523–538, 2010.
[8] M. DeFond and J. Zhang, “A review of archival auditing research,” J. Account. Econ., vol. 58, no. 2–3, pp. 275–326, 2014.
[9] F. A. Gul, J.-B. Kim, and A. A. Qiu, “Ownership concentration, foreign shareholding, audit quality, and stock price synchronicity: Evidence from China,” J. financ. econ., vol. 95, no. 3, pp. 425–442, 2010.
[10] J. R. Francis and M. D. Yu, “Big 4 office size and audit quality,” Account. Rev., vol. 84, no. 5, pp. 1521–1552, 2009.
[11] K. J. Reichelt and D. Wang, “National and office‐specific measures of auditor industry expertise and effects on audit quality,” J. Account. Res., vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 647–686, 2010.
[12] A. Lawrence, M. Minutti-Meza, and P. Zhang, “Can Big 4 versus non-Big 4 differences in audit-quality proxies be attributed to client characteristics?,” Account. Rev., vol. 86, no. 1, pp. 259–286, 2011.
[13] P. Carey and R. Simnett, “Audit partner tenure and audit quality,” Account. Rev., vol. 81, no. 3, pp. 653–676, 2006.
[14] J. R. Francis, “A framework for understanding and researching audit quality,” Audit. A J. Pract. theory, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 125–152, 2011.
[15] F. A. Gul, D. Wu, and Z. Yang, “Do individual auditors affect audit quality? Evidence from archival data,” Account. Rev., vol. 88, no. 6, pp. 1993–2023, 2013.
[16] M. L. DeFond and J. R. Francis, “Audit research after sarbanes‐oxley,” Audit. A J. Pract. theory, vol. 24, no. s-1, pp. 5–30, 2005.
[17] W. R. Knechel, G. V Krishnan, M. Pevzner, L. B. Shefchik, and U. K. Velury, “Audit quality: Insights from the academic literature,” Audit. A J. Pract. theory, vol. 32, no. Supplement 1, pp. 385–421, 2013.
[18] A. Aghaei Chadegani, “Review of studies on audit quality,” Available SSRN 2227359, 2011.
[19] D. R. Deis Jr and G. A. Giroux, “Determinants of audit quality in the public sector,” Account. Rev., pp. 462–479, 1992.
[20] N. Tepalagul and L. Lin, “Auditor independence and audit quality: A literature review,” J. accounting, Audit. Financ., vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 101–121, 2015.
[21] W. H. Meckling and M. C. Jensen, “Theory of the Firm,” Manag. Behav. Agency Costs Ownersh. Struct., 1976.
[22] W. R. Knechel, “Audit quality and regulation,” Int. J. Audit., vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 215–223, 2016.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Loso Judijanto, Edy Susanto

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.












