About this Research Topic
Sentiments are explicitly stated opinions, feelings, intuition, attitudes, positions, and perceptions and can impact rational behavior and create market distortions (so-called “animal spirits”). They can be measured in several ways: polarity, subjectivity, toxicity, stereotypes, bias, and naivete. The role of sentiments in decision-making is a prominent research area in economics and finance, theoretically and empirically, and is rapidly evolving with recent computational advancements.
Consumers may express disdain for fast food or leave negative Amazon product reviews yet continue to purchase those goods. Investors often have a positive view of a risky company while ignoring fundamentals. Employers may refuse to hire a profitable employee out of animus. Sentiment is not commitment. Homo Economus is exceptionally knowledgeable, patient, and strategic. At the same time, how one describes their preferences is often inconsistent with their behavior, and feelings can betray rational decisions. This issue aims to further our understanding of how measurable, stated attitudes relate to deviations from traditional economic predictions. We invite submissions (theoretical, experimental, or empirical) toward this aim.
Relevant work for the special issue includes manuscripts that isolate critical aspects of sentiment and relate them to deviations from traditional theory (e.g., decision-making, strategic interaction, risk-taking, intertemporal choice/time inconsistency, saving, and consumption). Studies exploring novel ways of measuring sentiments, identifying behavioral inconsistencies, and the impact of sentiments on strategic behavior are welcome. We are particularly interested in manuscripts incorporating text analysis, AI/ML topic modeling, opinion-mining, and experimental design using textual data not limited to survey data, reviews, and performance evaluations.
Consumers may express disdain for fast food or leave negative Amazon product reviews yet continue to purchase those goods. Investors often have a positive view of a risky company while ignoring fundamentals. Employers may refuse to hire a profitable employee out of animus. Sentiment is not commitment. Homo Economus is exceptionally knowledgeable, patient, and strategic. At the same time, how one describes their preferences is often inconsistent with their behavior, and feelings can betray rational decisions. This issue aims to further our understanding of how measurable, stated attitudes relate to deviations from traditional economic predictions. We invite submissions (theoretical, experimental, or empirical) toward this aim.
Relevant work for the special issue includes manuscripts that isolate critical aspects of sentiment and relate them to deviations from traditional theory (e.g., decision-making, strategic interaction, risk-taking, intertemporal choice/time inconsistency, saving, and consumption). Studies exploring novel ways of measuring sentiments, identifying behavioral inconsistencies, and the impact of sentiments on strategic behavior are welcome. We are particularly interested in manuscripts incorporating text analysis, AI/ML topic modeling, opinion-mining, and experimental design using textual data not limited to survey data, reviews, and performance evaluations.
Keywords: decision-making, opinion, polarity, subjectivity, bias, sentiments
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
