It has been widely accepted that people do not always behave rationally when making decisions. However, cognitive biases are still of interest to a relatively small group (mostly working in the area of psychology) even though they have been introduced to a wider audience by Tversky and Kahneman&rsquo / s article in Science in 1974. It has already been shown that behavioral biases affect most decisions of people / therefore, they have an important role in a wide range of fields, from financial marketing to gambling. The purpose of this study is to investigate some cognitive biases (anchoring, reference point, probability judgment and risk propensity) in Turkey. In brief, anchoring bias is the fallacious effect of anchor values on decision making process, the presence of reference point bias proves that people are excessively affected by comparisons, probability judgment bias is the erroneous evaluation of probabilities, and risk propensity bias is the fallacious effect of the risk propensity levels on decision making processes. The relationships of these biases with individual cognitive ability levels and socioeconomic variables are also inspected. The data are collected by using a survey that is composed of the related measures which are taken from previous surveys in the literature. The sample is composed of a large number of participants (1575) from a wide range of socioeconomic statuses, from students to working professionals to retired individuals. The results lend support to the presence of a reference point bias, and an effect of risk propensity levels on decisions. However, an evidence which supports anchoring and probability judgment biases are failed to be found at a significant level. A significant relationship between cognitive ability level and risk propensity level is found. Moreover, demographic variables are also found to have an effect on the selected biases and cognitive ability.

Syftet med studien är att identifiera om det finns någon skillnad i risk mellan svenska män och kvinnors aktieportföljer. I undersökningen av individernas riskbenägenhet används tre riskmått, total risk, marknadsrisk och unik risk, som enligt portföljteorin går att koppla till en individs aktieportfölj. Ålder och inkomst används som kontrollvariabler för att studera om eventuella skillnader i riskbenägenhet mellan könen kan förklaras av andra faktorer än kön. Studien baseras på en kvantitativ undersökning och sekundärdata från en unik databas. Urvalet för studien består av knappt 900 000 observationer av svenska individers aktieportföljer, med kontroll för kön, ålder och förvärvsinkomst. Resultatet av studien visar att det föreligger signifikanta skillnader mellan könens riskbenägenhet. Studien finner dock inga tydliga resultat för att män skulle vara mer riskbenägna än kvinnor, då könen tar olika hög risk beroende på vilket riskmått som avses. Resultaten visar på att skillnader mellan könens riskbenägenhet även existerar efter att variablerna ålder och inkomst studerats. / The purpose of this study is to identify whether there is any difference in risk between the stock portfolios of Swedish men and women. In the investigation of individual’ risk propensity, three measures of risk are used, total risk, market risk and unique risk, which according to the portfolio theory can be linked to an individual’s stock portfolio. Age and income are used as control variables to study whether any differences in risk propensity between the genders can be explained by other factors than gender. The study is based on a quantitative study and secondary data obtained from a unique database. The sample for the study consists of nearly 900 000 observations of Swedish individual’s stock portfolios, controlling for gender, age and income. The results of the study show that there are significant differences between the genders’ risk propensity. The study finds, however, no clear evidence that the men would be more risk-prone than women. The genders take different levels of high risk depending on which measure of risk involved. The results show that differences between the genders’ risk propensity also exists after studying the control variables age and income.

Individuals are affected by different biases and heuristics in different ways. This dissertation explores the two of these (underdog bias and self-rated performance) and their relationship with personal risk propensity in the South African investment professional community. To measure risk propensity in investment professionals, a new instrument was developed. This was tested against a risk measurement scale based on the original work in prospect theory. Both risk propensity measures found similar and comparable results in the investment professionals, and similar results when compared to other studies that studied risk propensity in a more general population and risk tolerance in investment professionals in Europe. Similarly, self-rated performance had comparable results to other studies on overconfidence bias and the better than average effect. Investment professionals, on average, think that they are better than their average peer. Underdog bias, or the headwinds/tailwinds asymmetry, had an unexpected result where the investment professionals felt they did not suffer from stronger headwinds and barriers compared to their peers. This was an unexpected result and may show that the South African investment industry feel more grateful than others to be where they are or, the sample may have triggered the boundary condition of underdog bias where individuals feel their personalised benefits more than their shared headwinds. Further testing is required in the same population as well as similar populations to confirm the boundary condition. The three constructs were tested to understand the relationship between them. In each of the three cases, there was no significant relationship between any of the constructs. The results were different to what was expected and, subject to further testing, may have found a blind spot in investment professionals where they believe that what when they are doing something they consider to be right, they do not perceive the increased risks associated with the action. These blind spots have an impact on how risk is managed investment firms and needs to be monitored to protect the overall firm. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2018. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Emergency medical services personnel work in a fast-paced, stressful environment requiring rapid, efficient response to critical situations, creating unique safety considerations within the workforce. With an occupational fatality rate notably higher than average, most of which are attributed to vehicular crashes, compounded by risks faced on rural roadways, rural EMS personnel face unique driving challenges that may be exacerbated by the very traits, self-efficacy and risk propensity, that may have initially drawn them to the profession. The purpose of this study was to identify the extent to which rural EMS personnel engage in off-duty, risky driving behaviors and to examine the relationship between these behaviors and their levels of risk propensity as well as their self-efficacy relative to driving. A cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted to explore the relationship between the variables. A 63-item survey was completed by 227 rural EMS personnel. The statistical model resulting from this study identifies risky-driving self-efficacy and risk propensity as significant predictors of engaging in risky driving behaviors, with self-efficacy emerging as the strongest predictor. The predictive model fit well within the Social Cognitive Theory construct of triadic reciprocity, providing a platform from which to develop mitigating strategies to foster systemic as well as behavioral changes, while tailoring interventions to highly self-efficacious, risk-taking individuals who gravitate toward risky professions, including rural EMS personnel.

Contract selection is at the forefront of risk management and mitigation, yet it is an underrepresented area of research in supply chain management field as well as the influences of individual-level risk propensity and risk perception on supply chain decision-making processes. This dissertation explores effects of managerial risk propensity and risk perception on contract selection through the theoretical lens of Transaction Cost Economics (TCE), using a vignette-based experimental research design. This body of work introduces both a first-ever systemmigram of TCE in relation to contract selection, and a novel measurement scale for TCE contract typology. Furthermore, this dissertation tests the TCE predictions towards contract selection and explores the moderating role of financial risk propensity and risk perception (cost vs. supplier performance) on contract selection. The main theoretical contribution of this research is the opening of an old debate on the risk neutrality assumption of TCE, by providing empirical evidence that individual-level risk propensity and perception effect contract selection. The practical implications are significant and points out to the need for a better fit between individual-level and firm-level risk propensity.

Ungdomarna idag tillhör en generation som kallas för Generation Y och de särskiljer sig från tidigare generationer med ett antal karaktäristiska drag. Dock, är det inte endast dessa drag som kan urskiljas utan även ett annorlunda riskbeteende gentemot tidigare generationer.  Experter är eniga om att det finns ett flertal faktorer som påverkar individers riskbenägenhet och att faktorerna varierar beroende på individens ålder. Detta leder oftast till att när ämnet undersöks, riktar forskarna in sig på en viss åldersgrupp eller generation. Det begränsat med forskning som specifikt tar upp Generation Y och riskbenägenhet. Därav är syftet med denna forskning att undersöka hur utvalda demografiska faktorer påverkar riskbenägenheten hos studenter ur Generation Y.  Uppsatsen antog en positivistisk forskningsfilosofi med ett beskrivande syfte. Theory of Planned Behavior är den teori som hypoteserna grundats på. Den insamlade empirin utgjordes av en kvantitativ studie, i form av en enkätundersökning som har en begränsning till fem skolämbeten. / The youth of today belongs to a generation called Generation Y and are distinguished from previous generations by a number of characteristic features. However, it is not only these features that can be distinguished between Generation Y and previous generation, but also a different kind of risk behavior. Experts agree that there are several factors that affect individuals' willingness to take risks and that these factors vary depending on the individual's age. This often results to, when this field is studied, that scientists aim on a specific age group or generation. Research regarding Generation Y has been conducted, however, there is limited research that specifically addresses Generation Y and risk propensity. Hence, the aim of this research is to examine how demographic factors influence the risk propensity of Generation Y. This dissertation adopted a positivist research philosophy with an explanatory purpose. Theory of Planned Behavior is the theory that the hypotheses are based on. The empirical data was collected using a quantitative study, in the form of a survey limited to five institutions of higher education.

A leader's unwillingness to delegate critical decision-making authority to subordinate managers and employees negatively impacts the performance of a firm. There is a lack of research that measures a leader's willingness to delegate critical decision-making authority to subordinate managers and employees based on their individual risk propensities. The purpose of this study was to provide empirical evidence of the influence risk propensity has on a leader's willingness to delegate critical decision-making authority. Specifically, this study examined the extent that risk propensity of leaders affect delegating critical decision making authority to subordinate managers and employees. The research design was a quantitative cross-sectional, correlation study that involved 56 questions. The study participants (N = 102) were presidents, CEOs, corporate executives, and chairpersons. The Stimulating-Instrumental Risk Inventory measured risk propensity and the Delegation Decision Instrument measured the willingness delegate critical decision-making authority. Both instruments showed to be reliable in terms of internal consistency for the measurement tests. Survey results revealed a significant negative correlation between a leader's risk propensity and the willingness to delegate critical decision-making authority. These findings suggested that leaders who retain primary responsibility for critical decision making have high risk propensity while those who delegate decisions have less risk propensity. These findings may equip theorists of risk propensity and decision-making on the relationship between delegation behaviors, risk propensity, and organizational performance. This research and the resulting analysis provides decision makers a window into their individual risk propensity preferences.

Syftet med arbetet är att behandla de faktorer som har stor påverkan på fastighetsmäklarens riskbenägenhet gentemot fastighetsmäklarlagen. Eftersom det finns många faktorer som kan påverka en individs riskbenägenhet så har arbetet begränsats till att omfatta: - Lönesättning. - Företagskultur. - Mäklarens upplysningsplikt och lockpriser. - SOU 2018:64 med hänsyn till tillsynen över mäklarföretag samt individerna inom dessa. - Verksam inom mäklarbranschen efter återkallad registrering. Den sistnämnda punkten har tagits med då vi under arbetets gång lade märke till att många mäklare som fått sin registrering återkallad fortfarande var aktiva inom branschen i en annan befattning. Arbetet tar upp mäklares (båda aktiva och de som fått sin registrering återkallad), intresseorganisationerna: FMF (Fastighetsmäklarförbundet) och Mäklarsamfundet samt Fastighetsmäklarinspektionens åsikter i frågan. En kvalitativ metod har använts där data från Fastighetsmäklarinspektionen har samlats in gällande mäklare som fått sin registrering återkallad mellan perioden 2016-2020. Datan har analyserat och dessa, 26, individer har sedan intervjuats (de som valde att ställa upp). Vi har även intervjuat aktiva mäklare, FMF, Mäklarsamfundet samt Fastighetsmäklarinspektionen för att få en mer rättvis bild av verkligheten. Intervjuerna skedde per telefon, med undantag för två intervjuer som skedde per mail. Bakgrunden till att vi valda telefonintervjuer var för att detta skulle underlätta i de fall följdfrågor dök upp och på grund av det rådande läget med Covid-19 så var detta det bästa alternativet. Det finns som sagt många faktorer som kan påverka en mäklares benägenhet att ta risker. Med risk i detta arbete menas att mäklaren utför en medveten handling som bryter mot fastighetsmäklarlagen för egen vinning. Ofta kan det vara på säljaren eller köparens bekostnad. Några faktorer som vi tror har stor påverkan på risk och som vi därför valt att undersöka är lönesättning och företagskulturen. Gällande lönesättningen, som ofta är provisionsbaserad inom mäklarbranschen, så finns det risk att intressekonflikter uppstår för mäklaren. Likaså finns det uppenbara intressekonflikter mellan köparens och säljarens intressen som mäklaren ska tillvarata. Dessa intressekonflikter anser vi ger ökade incitament för mäklaren att ta högre risker i sitt yrkesutövande. Utifrån vårt resultat så finns det indikationer som tyder på att samtliga individer som blev intervjuade delade samma uppfattning som oss. Företagskulturen är en mycket intressant och viktig aspekt för den enskilde mäklarens agerande. Både kollegor och chefer kan, enligt detta arbete och tidigare forskning, påverka den enskilde mäklarens riskbenägenhet. Som chef över ett mäklarkontor innehas ett stort ansvar för att sprida rätt kultur och etiska förhållningsregler gentemot säljare och köpare. Speciellt som nyanställd och nyexaminerad mäklare finns mycket att lära av det praktiska som till viss del inte tas upp under utbildningen. Att ha bra förebilder är en betydande faktor för att själv agera korrekt som mäklare. I lagförslaget för den nya fastighetsmäklarlagen så kommer även Fastighetsmäklarinspektionen kunna utöva tillsyn över chefer och personer i företagsledningen bland mäklarföretagen, förutsatt att detta förslag går igenom. Vi anser att detta lagförslag är ett steg i rätt riktning och att detta skulle kunna bidra till att riskbenägenheten inom branschen minskar. / The purpose of this thesis is to address the factors that have a major impact on brokers risk propensity towards Fastighetsmäklarlagen. Because there are many factors that can affect an individual's risk propensity this thesis has been limited to: - Wage setting. - Corporate culture. - Broker's obligation to provide information and bait prices. - SOU 2018:64 with regard to the supervision of brokerage companies and the individuals within them. - Active within the brokerage industry after revoked registration. The latter point has been taken into account because we noticed during the course of this thesis that many brokers who have had their registration revoked were still active within the industry in a different position. The thesis addresses brokers (both active and those who have had their registration revoked), interest organizations: FMF (Fastighetsmäklarförbundet), Mäklarsamfundet and Fastighetsmäklarinspektionen views on the matter. A qualitative method has been used where data from Fastighetsmäklarinspektionen has been collected and analysed regarding brokers who have had their registration revoked between the period 2016-2020. These individuals, 26, have thereafter been interviewed (those who chose to participate). We have also interviewed active brokers, FMF, Mäklarsamfundet and Fastighetsmäklarinspektionen to get a more accurate picture of reality. The interviews were conducted by telephone, with the exception of two interviews which were conducted by mail, as this was more convenient when we had follow-up questions and because of the prevailing situation with Covid-19, this was the best option. As mentioned, there are many factors that can affect a broker's tendency to take risks. By risk in this thesis we mean that the broker performs a deliberate act that violates Fastighetsmäklarlagen for his or her own gain. This is often done at the seller's or the buyer's expense. Some factors that we believe have a major impact on risk and therefore chose to investigate were wage setting and the corporate culture. With regard to wage setting, which is often commission-based in the brokerage industry, there is a risk that conflicts of interest arise for the broker. Similarly, there are obvious conflicts of interest between the interests of the buyer and the seller that the broker must take into consideration. We believe that these conflicts of interest provide increased incentives for the broker to take higher risks in his/hers professional practice. Based on our results, there are indications that all individuals who were interviewed shared the same view as us. The corporate culture is a very interesting and important aspect for the individual broker's behavior. According to this study and previous research, both colleagues and managers can influence the individual broker's risk propensity. As head of a broker's office, there is a great responsibility for spreading the right culture and ethical rules towards sellers and buyers. Especially as a newly hired and newly graduated broker, there is much to learn from the practical practice that to some extent does not have any room during the education. Having good role models is an important factor in acting correctly as a broker. In the bill for the new Fastighetsmäklarlagen Fastighetsmäklarinspektionen will be able to exercise supervision over managers and people in corporate management among the brokerage firms, provided that this bill will go through. We believe that this bill is a step in the right direction and that this could help to reduce the risk propensity in the industry.

No description available.

Det senaste decenniet har användandet av sociala medier exploderat och blivit en plattformdär information och tips om aktier och investeringar delas ut. Unga personer är de störstaanvändarna av sociala medier, och tidigare studier visar att denna åldersgrupp uppvisar ettmer riskfyllt beteende på aktiemarknaden. Syftet med denna studie var således att undersökahuruvida det finns ett samband mellan aktivitet på sociala medier och riskbenägenhet. Vidareundersöktes om tre variabler - överdrivet självförtroende, ångeraversion och kognitivdissonans - hade en medierande effekt i sambandet mellan aktivitet på sociala medier ochriskbenägenhet. En kvantitativ metod med en enkätstudie användes för studiensdatainsamling. Statistiska mått, däribland regressionsanalys och medieringsanalys, användesför att besvara forskningsfrågan. Resultaten visade att sociala medier har en statistisktsignifikant effekt på riskbenägenhet på aktiemarknaden, och att överdrivet självförtroende haren statistiskt signifikant medierande effekt på relationen. Det fanns inga belägg ellerindikationer på att kognitiv dissonans och ångeraversion har en medierande effekt.Sammanfattningsvis visade studien att aktivitet på sociala medier i investeringssyfte kanbidra till ökad riskbenägenhet, och att överdrivet självförtroende har en viktig roll sommedierande variabel i förhållandet. / The last decade, the use of social media has escalated and become a platform whereinformation and tips about stocks and investments are shared. Young individuals aregenerally the most frequent users of social media, and studies also show that the same agegroup displays a more risk-prone behavior in financial markets. Therefore, the purpose of thisstudy was to examine the potential effect of social media activity on risk propensity on thestock market. Furthermore, the study investigated whether the three variables -overconfidence, regret aversion, and cognitive dissonance - could be classified as a mediatingvariable between social media activity and risk propensity. The study was conducted using aquantitative method, employing a survey, where 130 people responded. Statistical measuressuch as regression analysis and mediation analysis were used to answer the research question.The results showed that social media has a statistically significant effect on risk propensity onthe stock market, and that overconfidence has a statistically significant mediating effect onthe relationship. There was no evidence or indication that cognitive dissonance or regretaversion has a mediating effect. In summary, the study demonstrated that use of social mediain investment purposes can increase risk willingness, and that overconfidence plays animportant role as a mediating variable in this relationship.