The effect of audit reports quality, Linguistic structure of the report and Professionalism of auditors on the user behavior: Evidence of substance over form

The present study investigates the effect of audit report quality on user behavior. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of reporting, legal and language structure of audit reports on user behavior. The present study is an applied research in which descriptive-correlation is used as a methodology. Additionally, data collection is by Delphi method. Audit reports were qualitatively evaluated based on a researcher-made checklist. Finally, to measure the behavior of users of audit reports, both the information inferred from financial reports and data of the returns obtained by investors were used. The structure of audit reports is studied based on the requirements of audit reporting standards, the legal structure is studied based on the provisions of the laws governing the duties of auditors and statutory auditor, and the language structure is studied based on the tone and explicitness of audit reports. Findings show a correlation between user behavior and audit reporting standards and language structure (tone and explicitness). Furthermore, findings show that not only institute’s ranking in both securities and exchange organization and association of certified public accountants, but also audits experience, do not effect user behavior. Meanwhile, audit report quality ranking and score is positively related with user behavior. In conclusion, these assumptions confirm the concept of substance over form in audit reports.