Sixteen fifth-grade students scored almost as well as their college counterparts on a 15-question exam after both groups had completed an introductory accounting course, said Gwen White, a Ball State accounting professor.

The test included questions about definitions of assets, liabilities, owners’ equity, net income, net loss and retained earnings. The average fifth grader correctly answered 13 of 15 questions while the typical college student missed only one question.

“This was not a difficult test, but these were very bright fifth graders who understood basic algebra as well as how to deal with fractions and percentages,” White said. “They had sufficient math and reading skills to grasp the basic concepts. The students demonstrated the necessary maturity and enthusiasm for learning an abstract discipline.”

During the course, fifth graders learned about business transactions, financial statements and business decision-making.

White said the fifth graders showed a great deal of enthusiasm during the course. However, when asked what they liked least about learning accounting, the youngsters responded in a manner often observed in young adults taking college accounting.

“They did not like tedium, frustration and being confused,” she said. “Fears of ‘messing up’ and that accounting was difficult to master also were evident.”

White said exposing students to accounting while in elementary school could lead them to study the field when attending college, boosting the number of potential professionals.

W.T. Wrege, a Ball State accounting professor, was the co-author of the study, which was published earlier this year in the “Journal of Accounting Education.”

White, a certified public accountant, joined the Ball State faculty in 1978. Her research interests are auditor judgment and gender bias. White’s research has been published in “The Journal of Business and Psychology,” “Journal of Auditing: Practice and Theory,” “International Journal of Auditing” and “Journal of Vocational Behavior.”

She may be reached at (765) 285-5116 or gwhite@bsu.edu.