Individual Differences in Investor Decision-making: Examining Representativeness Heuristics and Cognitive Reflection

Due to limited cognitive resources, investors often utilize mental shortcuts to make quick judgments. This study examines the impact of representativeness heuristics (Conjunction Fallacy, Gambler's Fallacy, and Stereotypes) and the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) on investor decision-making. Th...

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Main Authors: Ruhollah Amareh, Esfandyar Malekian, Hossein Fakhari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad 2023-12-01
Series:Iranian Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ijaaf.um.ac.ir/article_43844_19bc21a13a6a3587f524fa2d01a46979.pdf
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author Ruhollah Amareh
Esfandyar Malekian
Hossein Fakhari
author_facet Ruhollah Amareh
Esfandyar Malekian
Hossein Fakhari
author_sort Ruhollah Amareh
collection DOAJ
description Due to limited cognitive resources, investors often utilize mental shortcuts to make quick judgments. This study examines the impact of representativeness heuristics (Conjunction Fallacy, Gambler's Fallacy, and Stereotypes) and the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) on investor decision-making. The population of this study consists of a sample of investors in the Tehran Stock Exchange. The study employs a Chi-Square test (χ^2) to explore the relationship between heuristics and CRT, along with T-tests, one-way ANOVA, and correlation analyses to identify individual differences. Results indicate that proper utilization of cognitive resources can partially prevent the Conjunction Fallacy from occurring. Moreover, investors tend to consider the high probability of consecutive results for an event regardless of cognitive resource usage. Interestingly, this study also found that investors with lower CRT scores made decisions less influenced by stereotypes. We conclude that reducing the impact of representativeness heuristics can be achieved through knowledge and experience gained from similar situations and appropriately utilizing cognitive resources.
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spelling doaj-art-8fb38476413140e08edcb82c0d939ccd2025-08-20T02:00:12ZengFerdowsi University of MashhadIranian Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance2717-41312588-61422023-12-017410912110.22067/ijaaf.2023.43844.131043844Individual Differences in Investor Decision-making: Examining Representativeness Heuristics and Cognitive ReflectionRuhollah Amareh0Esfandyar Malekian1Hossein Fakhari2Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, IranDepartment of Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, IranDue to limited cognitive resources, investors often utilize mental shortcuts to make quick judgments. This study examines the impact of representativeness heuristics (Conjunction Fallacy, Gambler's Fallacy, and Stereotypes) and the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) on investor decision-making. The population of this study consists of a sample of investors in the Tehran Stock Exchange. The study employs a Chi-Square test (χ^2) to explore the relationship between heuristics and CRT, along with T-tests, one-way ANOVA, and correlation analyses to identify individual differences. Results indicate that proper utilization of cognitive resources can partially prevent the Conjunction Fallacy from occurring. Moreover, investors tend to consider the high probability of consecutive results for an event regardless of cognitive resource usage. Interestingly, this study also found that investors with lower CRT scores made decisions less influenced by stereotypes. We conclude that reducing the impact of representativeness heuristics can be achieved through knowledge and experience gained from similar situations and appropriately utilizing cognitive resources.https://ijaaf.um.ac.ir/article_43844_19bc21a13a6a3587f524fa2d01a46979.pdfrepresentativeness heuristic and conjunction fallacygambler’s fallacy and stereotypesand crt
spellingShingle Ruhollah Amareh
Esfandyar Malekian
Hossein Fakhari
Individual Differences in Investor Decision-making: Examining Representativeness Heuristics and Cognitive Reflection
Iranian Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance
representativeness heuristic and conjunction fallacy
gambler’s fallacy and stereotypes
and crt
title Individual Differences in Investor Decision-making: Examining Representativeness Heuristics and Cognitive Reflection
title_full Individual Differences in Investor Decision-making: Examining Representativeness Heuristics and Cognitive Reflection
title_fullStr Individual Differences in Investor Decision-making: Examining Representativeness Heuristics and Cognitive Reflection
title_full_unstemmed Individual Differences in Investor Decision-making: Examining Representativeness Heuristics and Cognitive Reflection
title_short Individual Differences in Investor Decision-making: Examining Representativeness Heuristics and Cognitive Reflection
title_sort individual differences in investor decision making examining representativeness heuristics and cognitive reflection
topic representativeness heuristic and conjunction fallacy
gambler’s fallacy and stereotypes
and crt
url https://ijaaf.um.ac.ir/article_43844_19bc21a13a6a3587f524fa2d01a46979.pdf
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AT hosseinfakhari individualdifferencesininvestordecisionmakingexaminingrepresentativenessheuristicsandcognitivereflection