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A Systematic Literature Review of Cognitive Biases in Workplace Decision-Making

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  • Ohms, Benjamin

Abstract

In this paper, a systematic literature review is performed to identify heuristics and biases of decision-making for employees in the workplace. The research starts by utilizing existing literature reviews until 2022 and then conducts its literature review to bridge the gap to 2025. The literature review is conducted with the help of methods from Kitchenham (2004) and Nightingale (2009). The databases EBSCOhost, Scopus, and Web of Science were used for searching related literature. A precise keyword string is used to search, as well as various filtering, in order to get peer-reviewed journal articles. Initially, 221 articles were found and reviewed, and 70 were included in the literature review. The literature review shows an overwhelming amount of studies in investment and finance settings. However, it further indicates a lack of studies in other areas, especially in the workplace setting, such as in Singapore. Furthermore, it overviews the most prominent biases and recommends that further studies in other settings could utilize similar biases. The biases were overconfidence bias, herding bias, and decision avoidance bias. Thus, further research into other fields and regions could utilize these biases to get new insights into these topics.

Suggested Citation

  • Ohms, Benjamin, 2025. "A Systematic Literature Review of Cognitive Biases in Workplace Decision-Making," SocArXiv 2kq9b_v1, Center for Open Science.
  • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:2kq9b_v1
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/2kq9b_v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Herbert A. Simon, 1955. "A Behavioral Model of Rational Choice," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 69(1), pages 99-118.
    2. Jennifer Kunz & Lara Sonnenholzner, 2023. "Managerial overconfidence: promoter of or obstacle to organizational resilience?," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 67-128, January.
    3. Daniel Kahneman & Amos Tversky, 2013. "Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision Under Risk," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Leonard C MacLean & William T Ziemba (ed.), HANDBOOK OF THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING Part I, chapter 6, pages 99-127, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    4. Rafał Wolski & Monika Bolek & Jerzy Gajdka & Janusz Brzeszczyński & Ali M. Kutan, 2023. "Do investment fund managers behave rationally in the light of central bank communication? Survey evidence from Poland," Qualitative Research in Financial Markets, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 15(5), pages 757-794, February.
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    6. Muhammad Asim Shahzad & Du Jianguo & Naveed Jan & Yasir Rasool, 2024. "Perceived Behavioral Factors and Individual Investor Stock Market Investment Decision: Multigroup Analysis and Major Stock Markets Perspectives," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, June.
    7. Zain UI Abideen & Zeeshan Ahmed & Huan Qiu & Yiwei Zhao, 2023. "Do Behavioral Biases Affect Investors’ Investment Decision Making? Evidence from the Pakistani Equity Market," Risks, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-32, June.
    8. Dharmendra Singh & Garima Malik & Prateek Jain & Mahmoud Abouraia, 2024. "A systematic review and research agenda on the causes and consequences of financial overconfidence," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(1), pages 2348543-234, December.
    9. Behrer,Arnold Patrick & Bolotnyy,Valentin, 2024. "Heat and Law Enforcement," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10776, The World Bank.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ohms, Benjamin, 2025. "Methodology for Investigating Moderating Relationships in Cognitive Biases: A Guide for Workplace Decision-Making Studies in Singapore," SocArXiv j3kbv_v1, Center for Open Science.
    2. Ohms, Benjamin, 2025. "Research Framework and Hypothesis Development: Investigating Cognitive Biases in Singaporean Workplace Decision-Making," SocArXiv vd4x8_v1, Center for Open Science.
    3. Ohms, Benjamin, 2025. "A Quantitative Approach to Investigating Cognitive Biases in Workplace Decision- Making in Singapore," SocArXiv 43tg6_v1, Center for Open Science.

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