Perfil de investidor dos estudantes de graduação da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia: um estudo embasado pela teoria da perspectiva

Abstract

This monograph analyzes the investment profile of undergraduate students at the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), based on Prospect Theory developed by Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky. The research aims to understand how emotional and cognitive aspects influence these students' investment decisions, addressing factors that promote risk aversion or risk acceptance behaviors. To achieve this, a structured questionnaire was applied, allowing for the identification of behavioral biases such as certainty, isolation, and reflection effects, which frequently impact financial decision-making. The analysis considers demographic and academic variables, including undergraduate course, academic year, family income, gender, age, and ethnicity, in order to assess predisposition to risk in different scenarios. The results show that the students analyzed exhibit risk-averse behavior in gain scenarios and seek to avoid losses in uncertain situations, highlighting the influence of emotional biases on their decisions. Additionally, the study demonstrates how variables such as course of study, income, and personal attributes can modulate participants' risk propensity. This research contributes to the field of behavioral finance by providing an understanding of the factors that may influence future investors' decision-making and risk exposure behavior.