Arjun Kumar Niroula

Investor behavioral factors determine the investment decisions of individual investors in the stock market. The study investigated behavioral factors driving investment decisions in Nepal’s stock market, contributing to existing literature. The behavioral factors comprise heuristics, prospects, and herding as predictors and investment decisions as a response variable. Thus, the study adopted a descriptive and analytical research design to test the research hypotheses and resolve the research questions and issues. A survey was conducted among individual investors registered with Nepal’s trading management system (TMS). A total of 526 structured questionnaires were distributed to targeted respondents, and only 350 useful questionnaires (66.54 percent) were received. The survey data of cross-sectional type were encompassed with a random clustering sampling method for this study. Further, the study employed descriptive statistics to depict the characteristics of respondents’ profiles, correlation analysis to assess the association between predictors and response variables, and linear regression analysis to investigate the impact of predictors on response variables. Similarly, Cronbach’s alpha was tested to observe reliability in the study. The survey findings showed a positive and significant association between heuristics and investment decisions (β = 0.088, p < 0.05). The prospect is positively linked with the individual’s investment decision but found insignificant (β = 0.011, p > 0.05). Finally, herding found a positive and significant association with investment decisions (β = 0.235, p < 0.05). The findings of this study contribute to existing theory and can be a benchmark for decision-makers and policymakers, investors, and others.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The organization’s trade union greatly increases worker productivity by fostering a healthy work environment, resolving employee complaints, and encouraging employee involvement. To ascertain how union practices (collective bargaining, democratic principles, and job security) affect worker performance in Nepal’s cement manufacturing sector, this study investigates their impact on employee productivity. A causal and descriptive research strategy was employed. Survey participants were the employees working in the selected cement manufacturing companies of Nepal. The primary cross-sectional data were collected from October 2024 to February 2025. The paper used purposive sampling techniques; a total of 476 structured questionnaires were distributed, and 247 were retrieved. This paper also employed descriptive statistics and correlation and regression analyses. Similarly, Cronbach’s alpha was used to determine the internal consistency. The study’s findings indicated a substantial positive and significant impact of collective bargaining on employee performance (β = 0.691, t = 18.08). A robust, positive, and statistically significant impact of democratic principles on employee performance was identified (β = 0.60, t = 16.76). The results indicated a robust positive and statistically significant impact of job security on employee performance (β = 0.85, t = 18.54).

Type of the article: Research Article

Forensic accounting plays a vital role in detecting unethical accounting practices through forensic accounting skills and knowledge, which emphasize transparency and governance. This study aims to examine the role of forensic accounting in fraud detection in Nepalese organizations. The study employed a descriptive and causal research design and relied on primary cross-sectional data from professional employees in the financial sector, specifically commercial banks and insurance companies. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire utilizing purposive sampling. Therefore, the study utilized a total of 403 useful datasets for the analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistical tools were employed to analyze the data, including percentages, means, standard deviations, correlations, regression analysis, and Cronbach’s alpha. The study’s findings revealed a strongly positive and significant effect of forensic accounting skills on fraud detection (β = 0.204, p < 0.005). Similarly, a positive and significant impact of forensic knowledge on fraud detection (β = 0.599, p < 0.005) reflects that forensic accounting skills and knowledge help prevent fraud and support the eradication of unethical accounting practices of financial organizations. This finding contributes to existing theory and can be a benchmark for practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders in making decisions to address financial issues and fraud in financial institutions.