The current study examines the extent of professional skepticism in a
sample of undergraduate and graduate accounting students in two universities.
Trait skepticism is a lasting psychological construct, and individuals
possessing such trait can have an advantage when entering the auditing
profession (Hurtt, 2010). The study also examines whether individuals
possessing high levels of skepticism will view earnings management actions
differently from those with low levels of skepticism. The study is the first
to examine the relationship between a stable skepticism trait and ethical
perception. The results will be useful to potential employers as they contemplate
training their auditors and will also be helpful to instructors as
they emphasize the concept of professional skepticism to their students.