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Behavioral research in accounting deals with the behavior of accountants. As such, it uses accounting subjects. Accounting subjects are very difficult to come by because of the nature of the accounting environment. First, professional accountants operate in a pressured environment in which they have little or no time to participate in behavioral research. Second, professional accountants operate in an environment of high service charges and have little or no interest in participating in behavioral experiments free or for a token remuneration. Third, professional accountants are usually inaccessible because behavioral researchers have few or no opportunities for contacts within a CPA firm. Finally, professional accountants operate in the real world in which they perceive behavioral research as too abstract to have practical value for them to participate in. Given the difficulties in getting accounting subjects, behavioral researchers often lament that the pool of available accounting subjects is very small. As such, they cannot rely on conventional research strategies that assume, among other things, normal distribution and homogeneity of variances. In this paper, we suggest a broad range of research strategies including sampling, design, measurement, and analysis to deal specifically with a very small pool of available accounting subjects. We cite some prior behavioral accounting studies and refer to some statistic textbooks deemed best for the application of these research strategies. Our suggestions should benefit anyone doing behavioral research in accounting.

This study models competition in local deposit markets between for‐profit and not‐for‐profit financial institutions. For‐profit retail banks may offer a superior bundle of financial services, but not‐for‐profit (occupational) credit unions enjoy subsidies from their sponsors (and exemption from federal income taxes), which allow them to capture a share of the local market. The model predicts that, at the county level, greater participation in credit unions is associated with higher levels of retail‐banking concentration. This hypothesis is supported by empirical evidence for the period 1990‐2000, but not for the most recent past (2001‐2002). The ability of credit unions to affect local banking market structure supports the presumption of current banking anti trust analysis that retail banking markets are local. Further, this study provides an empirical analysis of how local economic conditions‐income per capita and population density‐affect competition between banks and credit unions.

The purpose of the study is to examine the following two research objectives. The first was to examine the predictive relationships that consumer characteristics of financial literacy, thinking styles and self-control have with a consumer's financial behaviors. The second goal was to ascertain financial management products' ability to aid those consumers who need it the most by weakening the predictive effects of consumer traits on financial behaviors.

The study employed a web-based survey to gather information. The measurement and structural models were analyzed using generalized structured component analysis (GSCA), a component-based structural equation model. The mediation effect of self-control is assessed using the GSCA. The conditional mediation of demographic variables and use of personal financial management products are evaluated using multi-group analysis (MGA) in GSCA.

Antecedents, financial literacy, thinking styles and self-control consumer characteristics are predictors of financial behaviors. However, self-control plays a more prominent role as a mediator between the other variables, strengthening the overall relationship. Also, financial products can have a beneficial moderation effect assisting those consumers who need them the most.

These insights help in creating target specific financial literacy strategies to influence consumers' financial behaviors. Also, there is a need to develop mechanisms to influence a consumer's self-control and thinking styles to improve financial behavior. In conjunction with other initiatives, the impact of financial literacy has a greater effect on financial behaviors. Further, the insights assist financial institutions and financial technology firms in offering and creating products to help customers make better financial decisions and improve their financial behaviors.

The research addressed a significant global issue – consumer financial health. The Great Recession and the COVID-19 recession highlight the need to focus on the consumer and efforts to improve their financial health.

This research highlighted the mediating role of self-control and suggested that existing and future financial products can positively influence consumer behavior drivers.