Filling an important gap in business education, this text stresses the relationship between business and financial disclosures. It emphasizes business context and research in financial statement analysis. As an introduction to the discipline, students learn how to analyze financial statements by actively engaging in the research process, especially on the Internet, and understanding environmental influences on financial disclosures. In doing so, this book develops critical thinking, research, and analytical skills, as well as a technical understanding of the subject matter.