Framework overview · Updated July 13, 2026
TPI Framework and Research Basis
TPI is an educational self-assessment that organizes self-reported trading tendencies into 16 descriptive profiles. It is designed for reflection and growth, not as a clinical test or a prediction of investment returns.
- 3
- assessment depths
- 4
- observation lenses
- 16
- descriptive profiles
- 4
- supported languages
Assessment versions
| Version | Questions | Typical time | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | 30 | ~3 min | Quick profile and radar overview |
| Standard | 50 | ~8 min | Core profile and development feedback |
| Pro | 110 | ~20 min | Full item set and deeper diagnostic prompts |
What TPI observes
Decision style
The balance between rules and data, and experience or market feel.
Time horizon
Preference for longer holding periods or faster trading cycles.
Risk posture
Risk acceptance, position behavior, and capital-preservation preference.
Response under pressure
Plan adherence, emotional sensitivity, and recovery after gains or losses.
How to interpret a result
- A profile describes recurring preferences; it is not a grade, diagnosis, or fixed identity.
- Development feedback describes answer patterns associated with trading discipline; it is not a credential or proof of profitability.
- The most useful comparison is between the report and real behavior recorded in a trading journal over time.
- Question mappings, scoring weights, thresholds, calibration rules, and anti-gaming logic are proprietary to TPI and are not publicly disclosed.
Research basis and citations
The following research informs concepts such as loss aversion, overconfidence, emotion, and financial risk tolerance. These sources do not constitute an independent validation of TPI itself.
Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under RiskKahneman & Tversky (1979), EconometricaBoys Will Be Boys: Gender, Overconfidence, and Common Stock InvestmentBarber & Odean (2001), Quarterly Journal of EconomicsFear and Greed in Financial Markets: A Clinical Study of Day-TradersLo, Repin & Steenbarger (2005), American Economic ReviewFinancial Risk Tolerance: A Review and Research AgendaBayar et al. (2023), European Management Journal
What TPI can and cannot tell you
- Self-report bias: answers may reflect how you want to trade rather than what you actually do.
- State dependence: recent wins, losses, stress, and market conditions can change responses.
- No clinical validation: TPI is not a diagnostic psychological instrument.
- No performance prediction: a profile does not predict returns or suitability for a financial product.
- Translation effects: wording across languages may not be perfectly equivalent.
- Use results as hypotheses and compare them with trading records and repeated observations.
Disclosure notes
- TPI publishes its conceptual framework, evidence sources, product scope, and limitations.
- The scoring engine and calibration details remain protected product intellectual property.
- Any future validation claim will include the study design and sample information needed to evaluate it.