Knowledge, attitude and behaviour toward investments: pilot study on Latvian sample

Abstract

This paper reflects the results of the pilot research within the series of studies aimed at evaluating the level of knowledge about financial investments among Latvian citizens, perceived complexity of the investments-related issues, attitudes towards financial products, savings, and investments, as well as at getting a general insight about citizens’ investment behaviour. The goal of the pilot research was to evaluate the perceived complexity of the investments-related questions, as well as to get an insight about the motives and barriers to start investing. The sample included 300 respondents. The survey was made using the authors’ developed questionnaire; the data was processed by means of the frequency analysis. To analyze open-ended questions consistent with the discourse analysis methodology, the openaccess software AntConc was used. Most difficult questions for respondents were those about bonds. Most respondents treat their knowledge about investments at the below-average level. Lack of free financial resources was mentioned as the most important barrier for making investments by 35% of respondents.