Audit research: Some reflections

This paper, which is intended to be a long editorial note, aims to examine what we know and what we need to know about the auditing activity. Its main purpose is to point out research areas that allow us to learn something more about the auditor's function, audit techniques and, specially, its future that probably will be exposed to very significant swings and changes. The subjects will be divided into positive and institutional (critical) approaches with the objective of achieving a systematic group approximation. A taxonomy of research areas is also constructed, based on the model by the American Accounting Association (AAA). More than a mere description or classification , the main purpose is to make a broad review in order to identify possible research lines within a general perspective, considering both technical matters, which challenge the professional job, and socio-economic concerns, regarding the general interest of the audit activity.