Positive accounting theory and an empirical study related with the choice of accounting policies

Thesis aims to present the relationships between the selection of accounting policies and the choices of interest groups in the frame of Turkey application by explaining the main facts and methodological assumptions of positive accounting theory. The main starting point of the thesis is positive accounting theory. In this context, the thesis began with the theoretical preparation process that is the basis of development, construction, and classification of positive accounting theory. Then, the detailed information about positive and normative accounting theories was given by emphasizing the differences between them. In the thesis, positive accounting theory was tested for Turkey by using 75 firms' consolidated financial statements and independent audit reports in order to obtain data. In the frame of the testing of positive accounting theory in respect of Turkey, multiple logistic regression analysis was used. Hypothesis about selected firms, policies, and interest groups that was developed by using positive accounting theory was firstly tested in the frame of PAT's expectations and then analyzed once more by adapting to Turkey. As a result, it was seen that the expectations of positive accounting theory are not completely valid in Turkey. In spite of this, managers make a selection between income increasing or decreasing (delaying) accounting policies partly within the frame of economic determinants such as leverage and size of an enterprise. Key Words: 1.Positive Accounting Theory 2.Accounting Theories 3.Normative Accounting Theories 4.Accounting Policy Selection 5.Logistic Regression Analysis