The Effect of Financial Literacy, Overconfidence, and Herding Behavior on Application-Based Investment Decisions

Published: Nov 11, 2025

Abstract:

Purpose: This study examines the influence of financial literacy, overconfidence, and herding behavior on investment decisions made through digital-based applications. It aims to determine which cognitive and behavioral factors most significantly shape investors’ decision-making in the digital era.

Methodology: The research applies a quantitative approach using a survey method involving 400 individual investors in Sumatra, Indonesia, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via an online questionnaire and analyzed using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4.0. The analysis covered the outer model (validity and reliability) and the inner model (path coefficients and significance testing).

Results/findings: The results indicate that financial literacy, overconfidence, and herding behavior each have a positive and significant effect on application-based investment decisions. These findings show that knowledge, self-confidence, and social influence play vital roles in shaping investors’ behavior in digital investment platforms.

Conclusions: Investors’ decisions in digital applications are influenced by both cognitive and social psychological factors, supporting behavioral finance theory, which asserts that investment behavior is not entirely rational.

Limitations: This study is limited to individual investors in Sumatra and uses self-reported data, which may cause response bias. It also excludes external factors such as market volatility, emotional regulation, and platform usability that could affect investment behavior.

Contribution: This research enriches behavioral finance literature by examining financial literacy, overconfidence, and herding behavior together in the context of digital investment platforms in Indonesia, offering new empirical evidence on their combined influence on investment decisions.

Keywords:
1. Digital Applications
2. Financial Literacy
3. Herding Behavior
4. Investment Decisions
5. Overconfidence
Authors:
1 . Zahrul Zima
2 . Fitra Dharma
3 . Retno Yuni Nur Susilowati
How to Cite
Zima, Z., Dharma, F., & Susilowati, R. Y. N. (2025). The Effect of Financial Literacy, Overconfidence, and Herding Behavior on Application-Based Investment Decisions. Goodwood Akuntansi Dan Auditing Reviu, 4(1), 121–147. https://doi.org/10.35912/gaar.v4i1.5587

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References

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    Adielyani, D., & Mawardi, W. (2020). The influence of overconfidence, herding behavior, and risk tolerance on stock investment decisions: The empirical study of millennial investors in Semarang City. Jurnal Maksipreneur: Manajemen, Koperasi, Dan Entrepreneurship, 10(1), 89-101. doi:https://doi.org/10.30588/jmp.v10i1.691

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    Ahmad, M., & Wu, Q. (2022). Does herding behavior matter in investment management and perceived market efficiency? Evidence from an emerging market. Management Decision, 60(8), 2148-2173. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-07-2020-0867

    Ajaib. (2023). Tentang Ajaib. Retrieved from https://ajaib.co.id

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    Almansour, B. Y., Elkrghli, S., & Almansour, A. Y. (2023). Behavioral finance factors and investment decisions: A mediating role of risk perception. Cogent Economics & Finance, 11(2), 2239032. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2023.2239032

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    Fama, E. F. (1970). Efficient capital markets: A review of theory and empirical work. the Journal of Finance, 25(2), 383-417. doi:https://doi.org/10.2307/2325486

    Gilenko, E., & Chernova, A. (2021). Saving behavior and financial literacy of Russian high school students: An application of a copula-based bivariate probit-regression approach. Children and Youth Services Review, 127, 106122. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106122

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    Ikhsan, M., Ismiyanti, F., & Komalasari, P. (2024). Enhancing Rational Investment Decisions: The Impact of Financial Literacy and Experience on Indonesian Retail Investors, Moderated by Overconfidence. Journal of System and Management Sciences, 14(10), 517-529. doi:https://doi.org/10.33168/jsms.2024.1029

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    Lim, S., Seetaram, N., Hosany, S., & Li, M. (2023). Consumption of pop culture and tourism demand: Through the lens of herding behaviour. Annals of Tourism Research, 99, 103531. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2023.103531

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    Markowitz, H. M. (2008). Portfolio selection: efficient diversification of investments: Yale university press.

    Mavruk, T. (2022). Analysis of herding behavior in individual investor portfolios using machine learning algorithms. Research in International Business and Finance, 62, 101740. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2022.101740

    Nugraheni, N. N. A., Kellen, P. B., & Rozari, P. d. (2021). The effect of financial behavior, financial literacy, and macroeconomics on stock investment decision-making in East Nusa Tenggara. Annals of Management and Organization Research, 3(1), 1-20. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/amor.v3i1.1183

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    Pramithasari, C., & Wibowo, P. A. (2025). Pengaruh Literasi Keuangan terhadap Pengelolaan Keuangan melalui Locus Of Control dan Self-Efficacy. Studi Ilmu Manajemen dan Organisasi, 6(1), 231-249. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/simo.v6i1.3788

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    Rahyuda, H., & Candradewi, M. R. (2023). Determinants of cryptocurrency investment decisions (Study of students in Bali). Investment Management & Financial Innovations, 20(2), 193. doi:https://doi.org/10.21511/imfi.20(2).2023.17

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    Sadewo, R. A. J., & Cahyaningdyah, D. (2022). Investor herding behavior in extreme conditions during COVID-19: study on Indonesian stock market. Management Analysis Journal, 11(1), 22-29. doi:https://doi.org/10.15294/maj.v11i1.53484

    Santoso, B., Maulidani, Y., Riduansah, R., Saiful, S., & Hakim, R. L. (2025). Pengaruh viral marketing terhadap buying decisions: peran moderasi herd behavior. Studi Ilmu Manajemen dan Organisasi, 6(1), 219-229. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/simo.v6i1.3953

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    Suresh, G. (2024). Impact of financial literacy and behavioural biases on investment decision-making. FIIB Business Review, 13(1), 72-86. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/23197145211035481

    Tang, I. M. H., & Haryono, N. A. (2023). Pengaruh Mental Accounting, Regret Aversion Bias, Herding Bias, Loss Aversion, Risk Perception, dan Financial Literacy terhadap Keputusan Investasi Investor Generasi Z di Kota Surabaya selama Pandemi Covid-19. Jurnal Ilmu Manajemen, 457-472. doi:https://doi.org/10.26740/jim.v11n2.p457-472

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  5. Ahmad, M., & Wu, Q. (2022). Does herding behavior matter in investment management and perceived market efficiency? Evidence from an emerging market. Management Decision, 60(8), 2148-2173. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-07-2020-0867
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