Strategies for Reducing Heuristic Bias in Investment Decision Making: A Study of Individual Investors

  • Marissa Putria Department of Accounting, State University of Malang, Indonesia
  • Cipto Wardoyo Department of Accounting, State University of Malang, Indonesia
  • Diana Tien Irafahmi Department of Accounting, State University of Malang, Indonesia
Keywords: Heuristic Bias; Investment Decisions Making and Individual Investors.

Abstract

This study focuses on what strategies are used to reduce the negative impact of using heuristics in decision making. This study aims to examine in depth the relevant strategies that can be used to reduce heuristic bias in investment decision making, especially among individual investors. Qualitative research method with a case study approach, research data was collected using purposive sampling technique on individual investors who actively invest in the capital market, either through stocks or digital platforms such as online mutual funds and trading applications. The research findings consist of one main theme that is in accordance with the focus of the research, namely strategies to overcome heuristic bias, which includes four sub-themes consisting of systematic evaluation and planning, application of practical strategies and self-discipline, use of guidelines for consistency and objectivity, and training to increase awareness and self-control. The findings contribute to the literature in behavioral finance and financial psychology, especially by expanding the understanding of the self-control mechanisms used by investors in responding to cognitive biases. These findings also support and strengthen prospect theory by adding dimensions of contextual and individual control strategies in responding to investment risk and uncertainty.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

H. Tanusdjaja, “Investment Decisions of Individual Investors Based on Competence, Overconfidence, and Education.,” J. Muara Ilmu Ekon. dan Bisnis, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 234, 2018, doi:10.24912/jmieb.v2i1.998.

R. Wirawan, T. Mildawati, and B. Suryono, “Determinants of Investment Decision Making Based on Subjective Norms, Behavioral Control, and Heuristic Behavior,” EKUITAS (Journal of Economics and Finance), vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 43–57, 2022, doi: 10.24034/j25485024.y2022.v6.i1.5163.

I. M. Narsa and N. P. D. R. H. Narsa, Heuristics and Judgment Bias in Accounting Research. Airlangga University Press, 2023.

M. Salman, B. Khan, S. Z. Khan, and R. U. Khan, “The impact of heuristic availability bias on investment decision-making: Moderated mediation model,” Bus. Strateg. Dev., vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 246–257, 2021, doi: 10.1002/bsd2.148.

R. K. Raut, “Past behaviour, financial literacy and investment decision-making process of individual investors,” Int. J. Emerg. Mark., vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 1243–1263, 2020, doi: 10.1108/IJOEM-07-2018-0379.

A. A. Budiman, “The Influence of Heuristic Biases and Herding Bias on Investment Decisions with Financial Literacy as a Moderating Variable (Empirical Study of Investor Behavior in the Indonesian Capital Market),” 2023.

E. Otuteye and M. Siddiquee, “Overcoming cognitive biases: A heuristic for making value investing decisions,” J. Behav. Financ., vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 140–149, 2015.

Y. . Sadeli, A. Amiruddin, and D. Darmawati, “Exploration of Individual Investor Behavior in Investment Decision Making: A Phenomenological Approach,” AkMen J. Ilm., vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 279–289, 2021, doi: 10.37476/akmen.v18i3.1754.

A. Pracoyo et al., Financial Behavior: Theory and Practice. PT. Green Pustaka Indonesia., 2025.

M. Raab, C. MacMahon, S. Avugos, and M. Bar-Eli, “Heuristics, biases, and decision making,” Anticip. Decis. Mak. Sport, pp. 215–231, 2019.

D. Kahneman and A. Tversky, “Prospect theory: An analysis of decision under risk.,” Econometrica, vol. 47, no. 2, pp. 263–291, 1979, doi: https://doi.org/10.2307/1914185.

A. Tversky and D. Kahneman, “Advances in prospect theory: Cumulative representation of uncertainty,” J. Risk Uncertain., vol. 4, pp. 297–323, 1992.

A. Tversky and D. Kahneman, “Availability: A heuristic for judging frequency and probability,” Cogn. Psychol., vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 207–232, 1973, doi: 10.1016/0010-0285(73)90033-9.

G. Gigerenzer and D. G. Goldstein, “The recognition heuristic: A decade of research,” udgment Decis. Making, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 100–121, 2011.

M. Raue and S. G. Scholl, “The use of heuristics in decision making under risk and uncertainty,” Psychol. Perspect. risk risk Anal. Theory, Model. Appl., pp. 153–179, 2018.

M. M. Ayaa, W. K. Peprah, M. O. Mensah, and B. Owusu-Sekyere, A. B., Daniel, “Influence of heuristic techniques and biases in investment decision-making: A conceptual analysis and directions for future research,” Int. J. Acad. Res. Bus. Soc. Sci., vol. 12, no. 5, p. 1252, 2022.

J. Jain, N. Walia, H. Singla, S. Singh, K. Sood, and S. Grima, “Heuristic Biases as Mental Shortcuts to Investment Decision-Making: A Mediation Analysis of Risk Perception,” Risks, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 1–22, 2023,

B. Abdinegoro, Santoso. B, and S. A. Hidayati, “The Influence of Heuristic Biases on Stock Investment Decision Making (Study on Stock Investors in Mataram City),” Open J. Syst., vol. 17, no. 1978, pp. 3031–3044, 2023.

M. Ahmad, “The role of recognition-based heuristics in investment management activities: are expert investors immune?–A systematic literature review.,” Qual. Res. Financ. Mark., vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 401–422, 2024.

F. Pitthan and K. De Witte, “How Learning About Behavioural Biases Can Improve Financial Literacy? Experimental Evidence on the Effects of Learning About the Myopic Bias. Experimental Evidence on the Effects of Learning About the Myopic Bias.,” 2023.

G. Suresh, “Impact of financial literacy and behavioural biases on investment decision making,” FIIB Bus. Rev., vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 72–86, 2024.

A. Dacey, “Come now, let us reason together: Cognitive bias, individualism, and interactionism in critical thinking education.,” Informal Log., vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 47–76, 2020.

M.Raharjo,“Case studies in qualitative research:concepts and procedures,”Ekp,vol.13,no.3, pp.1576–1580, 2017.

V. Braun and V. Clarke, “Using thematic analysis in psychology; In qualittaive research in psychology,” Uwe Bristol, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 77–101, 2006, [Online]. Available: https://psychology.ukzn.ac.za/?mdocs-file=1176

M. R. Zati, “Performance Management,” and Human Resource Development Management, 2025, p. 106.

S. Qotrunada and T. . Hascaryani, “Analysis of the Influence of Biased Behavior on Stock Investment Decision Making in Generation Z and Millennials,” J. Econ. Management, and Accounting.,vol.1192,pp.304–317, 2024.

M. F. Zubaili, “The Influence of Technical Analysis and Fundamental Analysis on Sharia Stock Investment Decisions on Gen Z in Banda Aceh City,” Dr. Diss. Univ. Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh, 2025.

F. Hidayat, S. R. Siregar, and A. W. Nugroho, “Effects of Financial Management Behavior, Self-Efficacy, Herding on Generation Z Investment Decisions,” Account. Business Manaj. ( ABM ), vol. 30, no. 1, 2023, doi: 10.35606/jabm.v30i1.1192.

R. S. A. Nasution, Behavioral Accounting Theory. Cattleya Darmaya Fortuna., 2024.

K. Putri, “Exploring Cognitive Biases and Their Influence on Managerial Financial Decision Making: A Conceptual Model,” 2024.

A. Tversky and D. Kahneman, Advances in prospect theory: cumulative representation of uncertainty. Springer International Publishing., 2016.

Published
2025-07-27
How to Cite
Putria, M., Wardoyo, C., & Tien Irafahmi, D. (2025). Strategies for Reducing Heuristic Bias in Investment Decision Making: A Study of Individual Investors . International Journal of Science, Technology & Management, 6(4), 657-662. https://doi.org/10.46729/ijstm.v6i4.1338
Section
Articles