The testing of hypotheses was carried out using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and planned contrast comparisons. H1 posits that the investors under the operating lease condition are better able to detect off-balance sheet financing that are those under the equity method condition. As shown in Panel B of Table 2,the off-balance sheet types are significant for the high knowledge group (p = 0.02). Independent sample t-test shows that the investors under the operating lease condition (mean = 5.91) were better able to detect off-balance sheet financing than those under the equity method condition (mean = 5.36; one-tailed p = 0.02). However, the result does not hold true for the low knowledge group (p = 0.96), as shown in Panel C of Table 2.
According to Cornaggia, Franzen, and Simin (2012) and Bauman (2013), equity method is more difficult for investors to diseern the true nature of transaction than operating lease, resulting in investors facing operating lease were better able to detect OBS than those facing equity method. Thus,H1 is supported.