Chapter 6
Other Research
Databases and
Tools
Learning Objectives
Additional database research strategies
 Accounting search tools
 Governmental accounting databases
 Financial research databases
 Business research databases
 Massive Legal databases

Other Database Research Strategies:
Step 1: Information Needed

Business information needs can arise
for various reasons, such as
 Understanding the industry of a client
 Financial news that may affect a client
 Background of new corporate executives
 Understanding a company’s new products and
patents
Other Database Research Strategies:
Step 2: Determine the Sources

Commercial databases advantages
 Ability to improve database features
 Better search tools
 Comprehensive retrieval systems
 Often more user friendliness
Other Database Research Strategies:
Step 2: Determine the Sources
(contd.)

Industry information sources
 Sometimes need gov. industry code
 Government agencies
 Trade associations
Other Database Research Strategies:
Step 3: Use Search Techniques



Find all relevant sources
If keyword search, consider
 Alternative keyword terms
 Segment searching
 Date restrictions
 Changing connector terms
 Understand any search engine limits
Use reminder tools
 i.e. search histories
Other Database Research Strategies:
Step 4: Manage the Results
Search results come in various forms
 Citation, abbreviated, or full document
views
 Descriptive graphics or charts
 Additional documents or info. may exist
through tabs or listings on the side

Other Database Research Strategies:
Step 4: Manage the Results (contd.)

Consider reformat the citation of
sources to conform to the style needed.
 APA
Style uses author’s last name and first
name initial (year of publication), article title,
journal volume number (issue), article pages.
 Am. Acc. Assoc. style slightly varies from
APA.
Accounting Research Tools
RIA Checkpoint has a financial research
library in some subscriptions
 CCH’s Accounting Research Manager

Access to FASB’s codification, government
accounting, various auditing standards,
SEC authorities, and helpful secondary sources
 Advertises additional SEC materials not found in the
FASB’s codification
 Weekly newsletter available to subscribers

AICPA Accounting Research
Tools
Accounting Trends and Techniques
 Financial Report Surveys
 Audit and Accounting Manual
 Accounting and Tax Index

Government Accounting
Databases

GASB – GARS
 Government Accounting Research System
for state and local accounting
 Summary information on GASB’s website
 The Current Text provides GASB’s
codification of government acc. standards
 Hierarchy of authority exists
Government Accounting
Databases (contd.)

FASAB – Codification of authorities
 Accounting for the Federal government
 No hierarchy of authorities exists
Financial Research Databases
Provide financial statements of companies
 Examples of investigations:

 Unfunded
pension liabilities
 Dual date audit reports
 Size ranking of a company
 Pending government investigations
 Info. valuable for partner negotiations
 Ratio analysis for credit ratings
S&P NetAdvantage






Separate news on the market, bonds,
the economy, and industries
Quick links to industry surveys, investment
publications, investment advisory reports
Includes both private & public companies
Powerful search functions exist
Able to make various database reports
Bond info available in spreadsheet format
including its type, rating, & callability
Mergent Online
Public company info. is brief
 Access to company financials, history, joint
ventures, property locations
 Daily stock prices
 Financial ratio analysis
 Industry comparisons
 Foreign companies provided

Thomson Research

Analyst reports are historical strength
 Provide
more comprehensive view of a
company
 Analyzes implications of new developments

Historical corporate data (from 1962)
 Content
profile includes financial data, SEC
filings, auditor’s report, accounting practices,
and financial ratios
Thomson Research (contd.)

Nonfinancial information includes
 Overview
of markets and technology
 Companies’ joint ventures
 Product announcements
Other Financial Databases
Business and Company Resource
Center – Thomson Financial content
 Hoover’s Online – comprehensive company,

industry, and market intelligence
Other Financial Databases
(contd.)

Morningstar Investment Research
Center
particularly valuable for mutual funds
 Factiva – joint venture between Dow Jones and
Reuters – 25 years of pricing on stocks, bonds,
mutual funds, and global market indices.
Financial Research Challenges
Physically visiting the library for sources
 Hedge funds and private equity info.
 Mergers & acquisition info
 Academic accounting research
 Professional accounting concerns
 Specialized research, such as UCC filings

Article Index Databases
Provides relevant, non-authoritative analysis
on various topics
 Search for leading periodicals, such as Wall
Street Journal, or academic journals

Article Index Databases
(contd.)

Article Index databases include
 Business Source Premier, part of
EBESCO Host
 ABI Inform Global
 Specialized databases
 Broader databases, such as Factiva &
LexisNexis
International Business Sources
GlobalEDGE Resource Desk
– web directory of international topics
 International organizations such as
World Bank and OECD (Organization for
Economic Cooperation & Development
 Government agencies such as
International Trade Administration
 Foreign Databases

Statistical Sources
Stat-USA – current and historical data
on business, international trade, … by
the U.S. Department of Commerce.
 Various notable hardbound sources
 S&P’s statistical service
 Statistical Abstract of the U.S.

LexisNexis
Use to find authoritative legal sources,
news, business information, public records
 Potential searches:

 Earnings
reports
 Which companies have reorganized
 A company’s subsidiaries, divisions, branches.

Includes securities and tax laws,
newspapers, magazines, wire services,
accounting journals, law reviews
LexisNexis Academic




A subset of the information on LexisNexis
Five areas: general, business, legal research, news,
and people
Company dossier are particularly helpful
Some search engine limitations exist


Go to the area of interest before searching
Accounting information is weak, instead use an
accounting database, such as CCH’s Accounting
Research Manager
Other Legal Databases

Westlaw, Westlaw Business …





Alternative to Lexis especially for legal materials
Search tools facilitate keyword searches
Research tools especially noteworthy for court
cases, such as headnotes
Hein Online provides full-text access to law
reviews
Wilson Web is an article index database for
business and legal sources