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The effect of mobile device use and headline focus on investor judgments

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  • Brown, T.
  • Grant, Stephanie M.
  • Winn, Amanda M.

Abstract

This study conducts two experiments to examine how investors’ judgments differ when they read a press release using either a mobile device or a computer. Results show that when investors use a mobile device, information related to a specific headline (mentioning a specific part of the news like “net income” or “revenue”) influences their investment judgments more than when investors use a computer. This effect is robust to specific headlines that focus on either positive or negative information. In contrast, investors’ judgments do not differ when they use a mobile device compared to a computer and the headline is general (using the broad term “results”). We replicate our findings in a second experiment and provide evidence that the observed effect occurs because investors who use their mobile device are in a more distracted frame of mind, which in turn increases the influence of prominent information. Our results suggest that managers’ presentation choices may have a greater influence on investors as they increasingly rely on mobile devices to research and execute investment decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Brown, T. & Grant, Stephanie M. & Winn, Amanda M., 2020. "The effect of mobile device use and headline focus on investor judgments," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:aosoci:v:83:y:2020:i:c:s0361368219300960
    DOI: 10.1016/j.aos.2019.101100
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    5. Brown, Nerissa C. & Elliott, W. Brooke & Wermers, Russ & White, Roger M., 2021. "News or noise: Mobile internet technology and stock market activity," CFR Working Papers 21-10, University of Cologne, Centre for Financial Research (CFR).
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    7. Chen, Wei & Tan, Hun-Tong & Wang, Elaine Ying, 2023. "The impact of repeated notifications and notification checking mode on investors' reactions to managers’ strategic positive title emphasis," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).

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