The Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 requires
audit committees of public companies’ boards of directors
to install an anonymous reporting channel to assist in
deterring and detecting accounting fraud and control
weaknesses. While it is generally accepted that the availability
of such a reporting channel may reduce the
reporting cost of the observer of a questionable act, there
is concern that the addition of such a channel may decrease
the overall effectiveness compared to a system
employing only non-anonymous reporting options. The
rationale underlying this concern involves the would-be
reporter’s likelihood of reporting, the seriousness withthe organization’s ability to thoroughly follow-up the
report. Thus, we explore the extent to which the availability
of an anonymous reporting channel influences
intended use of non-anonymous reporting channels.
Further, in response to Sarbanes–Oxley and the environment
of financial scandals that led to its passage, many
firms are strengthening their internal audit departments,
and providing them with greater independence from
upper management’s direct control. Accordingly, our
examination tests whether the intended use of the internal
audit department as an internal reporting channel is
greater when the internal audit department is of ‘‘high’’
versus ‘‘low’’ quality. Finally, the study investigates intended
reporting behavior across three different cases
(e.g., settings)
which the organization treats an anonymous report, and