Nicola Beatson, Our people, Department of Accountancy & Finance

Senior Lecturer
BCom (Otago), MCom (Otago), PhD (Otago)

Tel +64 3 479 8321
Office OBS 5.08a
Email nicola.beatson@otago.ac.nz

Nicola joined the Department of Accountancy and Finance at the University of Otago in 2010. Since that time she has had several teaching accolades, including being named in the Otago University Student Association (OUSA) awards (student voted) as the 'Premier Lecturer, Commerce Division' in 2017, the OUSA 'Overall Premier Lecturer' in 2018, and the '2019 University of Otago Award for Excellence in Teaching'. In addition to her department role, Nicola is a 'Research Leader' for the Office of Student Success.

Nicola has a passion for accounting education and she is student focused, both in teaching and research activities. Her areas of research expertise are 'Accounting Education', 'Self-efficacy Beliefs', Student Engagement and Motivation', 'Teaching and Learning, and 'Non-cognitive Learning Variables'. She is seeking PhD candidates for a number of projects all based in these broad research areas. Nicola's enthusiasm for her research saw her win the PhD Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition in 2017, after winning the same competition for Masters students in 2015.

Nicola enjoys several service roles within the department including as a course approver and advisor, a member of the AKO teaching and learning committee, being the tutor coordinator for the department, and as the Kaiāwhina Māori in Accounting and Finance.

In 2017, Nicola was appointed a College Fellow for Cumberland College, one of Otago's residential colleges. College Fellows have the special purpose of relating with residents to facilitate and expand College residents' network within and beyond the University.
Visit the Cumberland College website.

Further information

Visit Issue 46, Otago Magazine for the story on Nicola's PhD research
Read the Otago Daily Times story on Nicola winning the 3MT competition
Read the Otago Post story on Nicola's PhD research and her goal to change the world view of accounting
Watch Nicola compete in the 3MT competition

Teaching

BSNS115

Research interests

Nicola is an active member of the Accounting Education community, shown by her committee membership on the Accounting Education, Special Interest Group, for Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ). She has editorial roles on Accounting Education, Journal of Accounting Education, and Heliyon.

Publications

Finkler, W., Davis, L. S., Ruwhiu, D., Li, L., Lloyd, N., Beatson, N., & Zhu, L. (2024). Science stories through a cultural lens: The effects of cultural framing of storytelling in the natural and social sciences. Metode Science Studies Journal, 14, 159-165. doi: 10.7203/metode.14.26592 Journal - Research Article

Beatson, N., de Lange, P., Tharapos, M., O'Connell, B., Smith, J., Scott, S., & Greatbanks, R. (2024). An examination of self-efficacy and sense of belonging on accounting student achievement. Accounting & Finance, 64, 723-738. doi: 10.1111/acfi.13160 Journal - Research Article

Keevy, M., Tharapos, M., O'Connell, B. T., Verhoef, G., de Lange, P., & Beatson, N. J. (2023). Using an extended professional project to develop professional skills among rural South African accounting students. Accounting Education. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/09639284.2023.2283441 Journal - Research Article

Sithole, S. T. M., Ran, G., de Lange, P., Tharapos, M., O'Connell, B., & Beatson, N. (2023). Data mining: Will first-year results predict the likelihood of completing subsequent units in accounting programs? Accounting Education, 32(4), 409-444. doi: 10.1080/09639284.2022.2075707 Journal - Research Article

de Lange, P., O'Connell, B. T., Tharapos, M., Beatson, N., & Oosthuizen, H. (2023). Accounting graduate employability: Employer perspectives on skills and attributes of international graduates. Accounting Education, 32(3), 249-277. doi: 10.1080/09639284.2022.2059383 Journal - Research Article

2024

Journal - Research Article

2023

Journal - Research Article

2022

Journal - Research Article

Luong, H., Man, Y., Botafogo, F., & Beatson, N. (2022). Sense of belonging during a global pandemic: A case of accounting students. Accounting Education, 31(6), 652-666. doi: 10.1080/09639284.2022.2134732

Beatson, N. J., Tharapos, M., O'Connell, B. T., de Lange, P., Carr, S., & Copeland, S. (2022). The gradual retreat from academic citizenship. Higher Education Quarterly, 76, 715-725. doi: 10.1111/hequ.12341

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Beatson, N., Oates, G., Patel, S., & White, A. (2022, July). First year accounting, how to enthuse and engage students with a fresh approach. Verbal presentation at the Accounting & Finance Association of Australia & New Zealand (AFAANZ) Conference, [Hybrid].

2021

Journal - Research Article

Beatson, N., de Lange, P., O'Connell, B., Tharapos, M., & Smith, J. K. (2021). Factors impacting on accounting academics' motivation and capacity to adapt in challenging times. Accounting Research Journal, 34(2), 184-195. doi: 10.1108/arj-08-2020-0240

Beatson, N. J., de Lange, P., & Oosthuizen, H. (2021). A question of balance: Study-work–life, perspectives from accounting students. Pacific Accounting Review, 33(3), 257-273. doi: 10.1108/PAR-09-2020-0137

Oosthuizen, H., De Lange, P., Wilmshurst, T., & Beatson, N. (2021). Teamwork in the accounting curriculum: Stakeholder expectations, accounting students’ value proposition, and instructors’ guidance. Accounting Education, 30(2), 131-158. doi: 10.1080/09639284.2020.1858321

Oosthuizen, H., De Lange, P., Wilmshurst, T., & Beatson, N. (2021). Leadership-in-teams, ready, willing and able: Perspectives of international accounting students. Meditari Accountancy Research, 29(1), 161-182. doi: 10.1108/medar-05-2019-0499

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Venkatraman, I., & Beatson, N. (2021). Story of a local community response to International Students' needs during COVID-19 induced lockdown. Proceedings of the Coronavirus and its Impacts on International Students Conference. Retrieved from https://impactinternationalstudentscorona.wordpress.com/

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Beatson, N., & Smith, J. (2021, July). Sources of self-efficacy beliefs in learning accounting: Does gender matter. Verbal presentation at the Accounting & Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ) Conference, [Online].

Beatson, N., Tharapos, M., O'Connell, B., de Lange, P., Carr, S., & Copeland, S. (2021, July). Low response, no response: The gradual retreat from academic citizenship. Verbal presentation at the Accounting & Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ) Conference, [Online].

Beatson, N., Delange, P., Tharapos, M., O'Connell, B., Smith, J., Scott, S., & Greatbanks, R. (2021, July). Do self-efficacy beliefs and a sense of belonging influence the ability to learn accounting? Verbal presentation at the Accounting & Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ) Conference, [Online].

2020

Journal - Research Article

Beatson, N., Berg, D., & Smith, J. K. (2020). Facing failure. Accounting Research Journal, 33(2), 287-306. doi: 10.1108/ARJ-10-2018-0164

Beatson, N., Gabriel, C.-A., Howell, A., Scott, S., van der Meer, J., & Wood, L. C. (2020). Just opt in: How choosing to engage with technology impacts business students’ academic performance. Journal of Accounting Education, 50(100641). doi: 10.1016/j.jaccedu.2019.100641

Beatson, N. J., Berg, D. A. G., & Smith, J. K. (2020). The influence of self‐efficacy beliefs and prior learning on performance. Accounting & Finance, 60, 1271-1294. doi: 10.1111/acfi.12440

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Beatson, N., & Smith, J. (2020). Do self-efficacy beliefs and a sense of belonging influence the ability to learn accounting? Proceedings of the Accounting & Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ) Conference. Retrieved from http://www.afaanzconference.com

2019

Journal - Research Article

Beatson, N. J., Berg, D. A. G., & Smith, J. K. (2019). The Sheldon effect: Fixed mindset does not always mean fragile confidence. Accounting Education, 28(5), 532-552. doi: 10.1080/09639284.2019.1661858

Beatson, N. J., Berg, D. A. G., Smith, J. K., & Smith-Han, C. (2019). Progression to intermediate level courses; Is a “pass” enough? Pacific Accounting Review, 31(2), 275-287. doi: 10.1108/PAR-03-2018-0025

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Beatson, N. J., Berg, D. A. G., & Smith, J. K. (2019). Where does confidence come from? A study of the sources of self-efficacy beliefs in accounting education. Proceedings of the Accounting & Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ) Annual Conference. Retrieved from http://www.afaanzconference.com

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Rogers, T., Wass, R., Berg, D., Brown, K., Smith-Han, K., Beatson, N., & Tagg, J. (2019). Enhancing PASS through structured metacognitive awareness training. Proceedings of the Australasian PASS and Peer Learning Conference: Excellence and Innovation: The Future of Peer Learning. (pp. 10). Retrieved from https://www.uow.edu.au/engage/pass-centre/conference

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Beatson, N. (2019). The role of self-efficacy beliefs in accounting education (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/9572

2018

Journal - Research Article

Beatson, N. J., Berg, D. A. G., & Smith, J. K. (2018). The impact of mastery feedback on undergraduate students’ self-efficacy beliefs. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 59, 58-66. doi: 10.1016/j.stueduc.2018.03.002

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Beatson, N., Berg, D. A. G., & Smith, J. K. (2018). Facing failure: Insights and reflections from six students repeating a first-year accounting course. Proceedings of the Accounting & Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ) Conference. Retrieved from https://www.afaanz.org/

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Beatson, N., & Carr, S. (2018, June). Student engagement research: What next? Verbal presentation at the SERGE Symposium 2018, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Beatson, N. (2018, June). Networking and collaboration. Verbal presentation at the SERGE Symposium 2018, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Beatson, N., Howell, A., van der Meer, J., Gabriel, C.-A., & Wood, L. (2018, June). Benefits of mobile apps to improve first-year student engagement. Verbal presentation at the SERGE Symposium 2018, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Other Research Output

Beatson, N. (2018, May). Facing failure: Insights and reflections from six students repeating a first-year accounting course. Department of Accountancy & Finance, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

2017

Journal - Research Article

Graham, A., Toon, I., Wynn-Williams, K., & Beatson, N. (2017). Using 'nudges' to encourage student engagement: An exploratory study from the UK and New Zealand. International Journal of Management Education, 15(2, Part A), 36-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ijme.2017.04.003

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Beatson, N., Berg, D., & Smith, J. (2017). Confidence matters: Self-efficacy beliefs in accounting education. Proceedings of the Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ) Conference. Retrieved from https://www.afaanz.org/conferences

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Beatson, N., & Carr, S. (2017). The barriers to using tools and techniques for transformational teaching. Proceedings of the Talking Teaching Conference. Retrieved from https://akoacademy.ac.nz/programme

Smith, J., Beatson, N., & Berg, D. (2017). Course performance feedback as a source of university students' sense of self-efficacy. Proceedings of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI) Conference. (pp. 646). Retrieved from https://earli.org/earli-2017

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Copeland, S., Beatson, N., & Carr, S. (2017, November). Low response, no response: The unintended retreat from academic citizenship. Verbal presentation at the Accounting Educators’ Conference, Melbourne, Australia.

Marriott, N., Sangster, A., Lowe, A., & Beatson, N. (2017, November). Quality in accounting education research: Issues and suggestions [Invited]. Panel discussion at the Accounting Educators’ Conference, Melbourne, Australia.

Beatson, N., Berg, D., Smith, J., & Smith-Han, C. (2017, November). Progression to intermediate level courses: Is a 'pass' enough? Verbal presentation at the Accounting Educators’ Conference, Melbourne, Australia.

2016

Journal - Research Article

Wynn-Williams, K., Beatson, N., & Anderson, C. (2016). The impact of unstructured case studies on surface learners: a study of second-year accounting students. Accounting Education, 25(3), 272-286. doi: 10.1080/09639284.2016.1165125

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Beatson, N. (2016, November). The impact of summative mastery feedback on accounting students' self-efficacy beliefs. Verbal presentation at the RMIT Accounting Educators' Conference: Accounting Education: What It Is, and What It Is Not, Melbourne, Australia.

Beatson, N., & Berg, D. (2016, July). Mind-set and self-efficacy beliefs: A study of repeating students taking a first year accounting course. Verbal presentation at the Accounting & Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ) Accounting Education Special Interest Group (SIG), Gold Coast, Australia.

Awarded Masters Degree

Beatson, N. (2016). Motivation and satisfaction at work: A study of information technology professionals (MCom). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/6225

2015

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Wynn-Williams, K., & Beatson, N. (2015, May). Accounting students and the work-study balance. Verbal presentation at the British Accounting and Finance Association (BAFA) Accounting Education Special Interest Group (AE SIG) Annual Conference, Manchester, UK.

Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report

Wynn-Williams, K., & Beatson, N. (2015). Learning in today's academic environment: A research project 2012 to 2016: Preliminary findings. Ako Aotearoa National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence. 12p. Retrieved from https://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/ako-hub/ako-aotearoa-southern-hub/resources/pages/learning-today%E2%80%99s-academic-environment

2014

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Wynn-Williams, K., & Beatson, N. (2014). Learning in today's academic environment. Proceedings of the Ako Aotearoa Southern Hub Projects in Progress Colloquium II. (pp. 4). Wellington, New Zealand: Ako Aotearoa. Retrieved from https://akoaotearoa.ac.nz

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Wynn-Williams, K., & Beatson, N. (2014, May). Learning in today's academic environment: Participation and first-year accounting students' desired outcomes (FP). Verbal presentation at the British Accounting and Finance Association (BAFA) Accounting Education Special Interest Group Annual Conference, Bristol, UK.

Wynn-Williams, K., Beatson, N., & Anderson, C. (2014, May). Learning in today's academic environment: Deep and surface learning in second-year accounting students (FP). Verbal presentation at the British Accounting and Finance Association (BAFA) Accounting Education Special Interest Group Annual Conference, Bristol, UK.

2013

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Wynn-Williams, K., Beatson, N., & Anderson, C. (2013, May). Learning in today's academic environment: The impact of group formation on first-year accounting students. Verbal presentation at the British Accounting and Finance Association (BAFA) Accounting Education Special Interest Group Annual Conference, London, UK.