Mailed questionnaires were used to collect data. The mailing package consisted of a
covering letter specifying the purpose of the survey, a self-administrated questionnaire
and a self-addressed stamped envelope. For the first sub-group of the sample, a letter
inviting participation in this survey was first sent to the partners of 678 CPA firms in
Hong Kong. Thirty firms agreed to participate and eighty-four names of employees were
obtained. The mailing package was then sent to these employees directly. Finally, sixtyone
completed questionnaires were returned, representing a response rate of 73 per cent.
For the accounting alumni, the mailing package was sent directly to them. Of the 406
questionnaires sent out, ninety-nine completed ones were returned, representing a
response rate of 24 per cent. For the participants contacted through the personal network,
120 questionnaires were sent out and ninety-four were returned, representing a response
rate of 78 per cent. Three replies were excluded because of incomplete information. In
total, we received 251 responses for our statistical analysis.