Accounting is an academic discipline. A theory contains a set of conclusions derived from the premises. The conclusions can be determined using induction or deduction. Deductive reasoning was popular from the Ancient Greeks to the Middle Ages. Watts and Zimmerman use inductive methods.
Normative theories have a value judgement.
Watts and Zimmerman's study is descriptive. Chambers and Sterling's articles are normative. 20 is descriptive. Deductive research is based on a closed, non-empirical system. There are more striking differences between inductive and deductive systems.