If the Ohlson (1995) and Feltham and Ohlson (1995) studies seem prim itive, that primitiveness is by design. These studies adopt a "back to basics" approach-one that lays the groundwork for a research paradigm
that represents an important alternative to the status quo. The Feltham Ohlson approach relies on a "measurement perspective," as opposed to the "information perspective" of the traditional mainstream work. In so doing, it provides more structure than has been evident in prior work. It also offers a theoretical grounding for a movement away from price explanation as the dominant paradigm and toward research designs built around the prediction of fundamentals such as earnings.