INFORMATION RESEARCH BY INDIVIDUAL INVESTORS: EVIDENCE FROM BELGIUM

摘要

This research examines how individual investors use the internet and traditional media to identify information and formulate their investment decisions. Before this study we developed several researche papers concerning financial information disclosure on the internet (Pozniak, 2010; Pozniak & Croquet, 2011; Pozniak; 2013). We also met managers of listed small and medium-sized firms (SME) to understand their point of view about internet financial communication (Pozniak & Guillemette, 2013). In this study, we report our first findings with the other side of financial communication. Our goal is to pinpoint the communication's target. To reach our research goals and understand the point of view of individual investors, we use a qualitative approach. We met 17 individual investors and used QSR Nvivo 10 to analyze the interviews. We identified the nature and source of information they search. Investment clubs as a source of information was discussed. We pay special attention to their internet profile in general and how they use the internet to search information.