Rational Theory Research Articles

The Influence of Perceived Economic Benefits on Single Parenting among Unmarried Mothers in Nigeria

This study, with a specific emphasis on the lived experiences of single mothers, explored the perceived economic advantages of single parenting among Nigerian single women. The study tackled the growing apprehensions over the financial difficulties encountered by families headed by single mothers, highlighting the growing number of low-income families in Africa, particularly in Nigeria. The study employed a combination of qualitative (Key Informant Interview) and quantitative (Survey) methods to investigate their viewpoints on the financial benefits of being a single parent. The theoretical framework explained the intricate relationship between socioeconomic issues and single parenting by integrating social exchange theory and rational adaptation theory. 450 respondents participated in the quantitative study, while 30 respondents were selected for the qualitative study. According to data collected, single mothers frequently enter into several partnerships to obtain a variety of financial support for both themselves and their children. The study emphasized asset accumulation and emotional benefits as ways that single mothers can reduce poverty in addition to financial rewards. The study further highlighted the significance of social protection frameworks and all-encompassing initiatives aimed at tackling the distinct obstacles encountered by single mothers, eventually promoting the welfare of mothers and their offspring in an emerging country such as Nigeria. Keywords: Single Mothers, Economic Benefits, Low-income Families, Social Protection

Examining Inflation Expectations within Asian Economies: Application of Wavelet Quantile Analysis towards Assessing Monetary Policy Credibility

The relevance of rational expectations has generated a renewed interest in assessing the accuracy of monetary policy declarations. Despite the enduring principles of the rational expectations theory, a remarkably dependable central bank can alleviate inflation by skillfully managing inflation expectations, thus avoiding adverse effects on employment. This paper explores the complex relationship between inflation expectations, target inflation rates, and the credibility of monetary policy, emphasizing the importance of rule compliance and transparent communication for establishing public confidence in central banks. While the estimation processes the study utilizes wavelet-based quantile regression by investigating data from 1990q1 to 2021q4, with variations across selected countries. The credibility index (CI) is employed to instrument the dependability of monetary policies. Nevertheless, the results of this study indicate that Policy credibility has a significant impact on inflation expectations in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, underscoring the importance of clear communication and institutional reforms. Different outcomes in India and considerable effects in Pakistan underscore the necessity of customized policy measures and communication strategies to address inflation and promote economic stability in South Asia.

Rasionalitas Pengambilan Keputusan Feeder Dan Surabaya Bus Terhadap Nasib Sopir Angkutan Umum Konvensional Menurut Teori Rasionalitas Max Weber

The city of Surabaya with a population that has high mobility certainly requires transportation to support population activities. As a city with a high population, the city of Surabaya certainly faces various problems in public transportation services, one of which is congestion. To overcome this problem, the Surabaya City Government launched the Suroboyo bus and Wira Wiri fleets as alternative public transportation to overcome vehicle density in the city of Surabaya. However, the existence of Suroboyo Bus and Wira Wiri Suroboyo as public transportation that covers almost the entire area of ​​Surabaya City, leaves questions about what will happen to drivers of conventional public transportation such as angkot or lyn which have previously been the choice of public transportation for the people of Surabaya City. It cannot be denied that the existence of Suroboyo Bus and Wira Wiri Suroboyo has caused a decrease in demand for conventional public transportation passengers. The aim of this research is to describe the rationality of Surabaya Bus and Wira Wiri decision making regarding conventional public transportation according to Max Weber's theory of rationality. This research uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. In research using literature or literature studies, the results can be obtained that Surabaya Bus and Wira Wiri's decision making regarding conventional public transportation does not fully fulfill the forms of rationality proposed by Max Weber.

'Insulin is super dangerous if you don't know what you're doing': Situating the risks of insulin within the image and performance enhancing drug community.

Insulin is an essential treatment within diabetes management; however, it takes on a role of enhancement within image and performance enhancing drug (IPED) communities due to its anabolic effects. This study sought to provide insight into how IPED users perceive and manage the risks linked to insulin. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 individuals from Australia and United Kingdom who used insulin as part of their IPED protocols. The analysis followed an iterative categorisation approach and applied the lens of situated rationality theory. The decision to incorporate insulin was influenced by peers' experiences and preferences. Participants highlighted the risks and responsibilities associated with insulin use, emphasising the need for precise lifestyle habits. They recognised the potential dangers and called for comprehensive harm reduction strategies within IPED communities to respond to such concerns. Some participants expressed reluctance to discuss insulin openly, underlining the importance of education and awareness to mitigate health risks associated with underground and uninformed use. While people who use IPEDs demonstrate awareness of the risks associated with insulin, their practices of routinisation moderate these risks within the context of IPED use. Silence as a risk-reduction strategy highlights vulnerabilities among certain prospective users, while the hierarchical structure of IPED use establishes expertise and status within the community. Reconsidering insulin risks entails reframing harm reduction messages to better match the social dynamics of IPED communities. Closer ties between IPED communities can enhance support accessibility, particularly through peers, who, with their firsthand knowledge, can offer tailored guidance.

Understanding the desire for green consumption: Norms, emotions, and attitudes

Building on goal-directed behavior premises, this article sets out to develop a framework for explaining why consumers desire green products. Informed by a qualitative study exploring critical consumption incidents, the new model of green goal-directed behaviors (MGGB) presents a unique approach, tested empirically through a survey on the sustainable food consumption of 474 U.S. consumers. By combining the effects of pro-environmental and self-oriented motivations, the MGGB achieved a superior fit and predictive power compared to rival frameworks. Structural equation modeling results unveiled the salient role of personal norms, associated with affective and evaluative mechanisms. The important function of social and cognitive aspects is also revealed. The novel approach taken herein overcomes the limitations of rational theories, by introducing new processes, and showing how their contingency on outcome expectancies and consumer involvement regulates the arousal of green consumption desires. Important considerations are derived for theory development, future research, and marketing practice.

I want to be safe: understanding the main drivers behind vaccination choice throughout the pandemic

BackgroundDespite being a major advancement in modern medicine, vaccines face widespread hesitancy and refusal, posing challenges to immunization campaigns. The COVID-19 pandemic accentuated vaccine hesitancy, emphasizing the pivotal role of beliefs in efficacy and safety on vaccine acceptance rates. This study explores the influence of efficacy and safety perceptions on vaccine uptake in Italy during the pandemic.MethodsWe administered a 70-item questionnaire to a representative sample of 600 Italian speakers. Participants were tasked with assessing the perceived effectiveness and safety of each vaccine dose, along with providing reasons influencing their vaccination choices. Additionally, we conducted an experimental manipulation, exploring the effects of four framing messages that emphasized safety and/or efficacy on participants’ willingness to receive a hypothetical fourth vaccine dose. Furthermore, participants were asked about their level of trust in the scientific community and public authorities, as well as their use of different information channels for obtaining COVID-19-related information.ResultsOur study reveals a dynamic shift in vaccine efficacy and safety perceptions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially influencing vaccination compliance. Initially perceived as more effective than safe, this assessment reversed by the time of the third dose. Beliefs regarding safety, rather than efficacy, played a significant role in anticipating future vaccinations (e.g., the booster dose). Safety-focused messages positively affected vaccination intent, while efficacy-focused messages showed limited impact. We also observed a changing trend in reasons for vaccination, with a decline in infection-related reasons and an increase in social related ones. Furthermore, trust dynamics evolved differently for public authorities and the scientific community.ConclusionsVaccine perception is a dynamic process shaped by evolving factors like efficacy and safety perceptions, trust levels, and individual motivations. Our study sheds light on the complex dynamics that underlie the perception of vaccine safety and efficacy, and their impact on willingness to vaccinate. We discuss these results in light of bounded rationality, loss aversion and classic utility theory.

Weil zeta functions of group representations over finite fields

In this article we define and study a zeta function ζG\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\zeta _G$$\\end{document}—similar to the Hasse-Weil zeta function—which enumerates absolutely irreducible representations over finite fields of a (profinite) group G. This Weil representation zeta function converges on a complex half-plane for all UBERG groups and admits an Euler product decomposition. Our motivation for this investigation is the observation that the reciprocal value ζG(k)-1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\zeta _G(k)^{-1}$$\\end{document} at a sufficiently large integer k coincides with the probability that k random elements generate the completed group ring of G. The explicit formulas obtained so far suggest that ζG\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\zeta _G$$\\end{document} is rather well-behaved. A central object of this article is the Weil abscissa, i.e., the abscissa of convergence a(G) of ζG\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\zeta _G$$\\end{document}. We calculate the Weil abscissae for free abelian, free abelian pro-p, free pro-p, free pronilpotent and free prosoluble groups. More generally, we obtain bounds (and sometimes explicit values) for the Weil abscissae of free pro-C\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\mathfrak {C}}$$\\end{document} groups, where C\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\mathfrak {C}}$$\\end{document} is a class of finite groups with prescribed composition factors. We prove that every real number a≥1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$a \\ge 1$$\\end{document} is the Weil abscissa a(G) of some profinite group G. In addition, we show that the Euler factors of ζG\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\zeta _G$$\\end{document} are rational functions in p-s\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$p^{-s}$$\\end{document} if G is virtually abelian. For finite groups G we calculate ζG\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\zeta _G$$\\end{document} using the rational representation theory of G.

ON TOPOLOGICAL COMPLEXITY OF GORENSTEIN SPACES

In this paper, using Sullivan's approach to rational homotopy theory of simply-connected finite type CW complexes, we endow the $\mathbb{Q}$-vector space $\mathcal{E}xt_{C^{\ast}(X;\mathbb{Q})}(\mathbb{Q}, C^{\ast}(X;\mathbb{Q}))$ with a graded commutative algebra structure. This leads us to introduce the $\mathcal{E}xt$-version of higher (resp. module, homology) topological complexity of $X_0$, the rationalization of $X$ (resp. of $X$ over $\mathbb{Q}$). We then compare these invariants and their respective ordinary ones for Gorenstein spaces.
 We also highlight, in this context, the benefit of Adams-Hilton models over a field of odd characteristics especially through two cases, the first one when the space is a $2$-cell CW-complex and the second one when it is a suspension.

Process and Politics Surrounding the Redevelopment of a Municipal Parking Deck Site in Houghton, Michigan

A proposal to redevelop 1.7 acres of publicly owned downtown waterfront property located in Houghton, Michigan involved a private developer replacing a decaying municipal parking deck with mixed-use taxable construction. The city’s redevelopment process and the developer’s vision for the site met opposition from a small, but well-organized, group calling for a halting of the process and the defeat of incumbent councilors in the subsequent election. Our analysis of the ballots found that challengers received more strategic votes than incumbents and that straight ticket and Election Day voters disproportionately skipped the city council race on their ballots. These results are consistent with collective action theory and rational ignorance theory.

Exploring duality symmetries, multicriticality and RG flows at c = 2

In this work, we study the realization of non-invertible duality symmetries along the toroidal branch of the c = 2 conformal manifold. A systematic procedure to construct symmetry defects is implemented to show that all Rational Conformal Field Theories along this branch enjoy duality symmetries. Furthermore, we delve into an in-depth analysis of two representative cases of multicritical theories, where the toroidal branch meets various orbifold branches. For these particular examples, the categorical data and the defect Hilbert spaces associated with the duality symmetries are obtained by resorting to modular covariance. Finally, we study the interplay between these novel symmetries and the various exactly marginal and relevant deformations, including some representative examples of Renormalization Group flows where the infrared is constrained by the non-invertible symmetries and their anomalies.

Energy gap and aromatic molecular rings.

The manuscript combines rational density functional theory simulations and experimental data to investigate the electrical properties of eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The optimized geometries reveal a preference for one-row, two-row and three-row ring distributions. Band structure plots demonstrate an inverse correlation between the number of aromatic rings and band gap size, with a specific order observed across the PAHs. Gas phase simulations support these findings, though differences in values are noted compared to the literature. Introducing a two-row ring distribution concept resolves discrepancies, particularly in azulene. The B3LYP function successfully bridges theoretical and experimental gaps, particularly in large PAHs. The manuscript highlights the potential for designing electronic devices based on different-sized PAHs, emphasizing a multi-ring distribution approach and opening new avenues for practical applications.

Limitations to optimal search in naturalistic active learning.

Optimality in active learning is under intense debate in numerous disciplines. We introduce a new empirical paradigm for studying naturalistic active learning, as well as new computational tools for jointly modeling algorithmic and rational theories of information search. Participants in our task can ask questions and learn about hundreds of everyday items but must retrieve queried items from memory. To maximize information gain, participants need to retrieve sequences of dissimilar items. In eight experiments (N = 795), we find that participants are unable to do this. Instead, associative memory mechanisms lead to the successive retrieval of similar items, an established memory effect known as semantic congruence. The extent of semantic congruence (and thus suboptimality in question asking) is unaffected by task instructions and incentives, though participants can identify efficient query sequences when given a choice between query sequences. Overall, our results indicate that participants can distinguish between optimal and suboptimal search if explicitly asked to do so, but have difficulty implementing optimal search from memory. We conclude that associative memory processes may place critical restrictions on people's ability to ask good questions in naturalistic active learning tasks. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Rational satisficing heuristics as determinants of online search behavior

We design a set of satisficing heuristic algorithms that mimic the online information retrieval behavior of rational decision makers (DMs) as reflected in their click through rates (CTRs). We illustrate how basic heuristic algorithms formalizing binary decision trees composed by 21 nodes and requiring DMs to observe one satisficing alternative lack the structural capacity to characterize the retrieval process. The algorithm requiring DMs to observe two satisficing alternatives –formalizing binary decision trees composed by 111 nodes – provides a sufficient approximation to their CTRs. Adding a third alternative – accounting for 351 nodes – delivers an almost identical set of CTRs to those displayed by DMs. The mimicking quality of the heuristic algorithms prevails as alternatives are added up to include the ten ranked within the first page of search results, incorporating 2,047 nodes to formalize the corresponding retrieval process. The set of algorithms bridges the gap between purely rational decision theory and heuristic behavior, illustrating how the CTRs observed can be generated by rational DMs performing a sequential search process while aiming to observe two or three satisficing alternatives. The decision-tree algorithmic structures presented are sufficiently malleable to introduce any potential modification to the beliefs and preferences of DMs and study its consequences in terms of CTRs.

Three-Dimensional Topological Field Theories and Nonunitary Minimal Models.

We find an intriguing relation between a class of three-dimensional nonunitary topological field theories (TFTs) and Virasoro minimal models M(2,2r+3) with r≥1. The TFTs are constructed by topologically twisting 3D N=4 superconformal field theories (SCFTs) of rank-0, i.e., having zero-dimensional Coulomb and Higgs branches. We present ultraviolet (UV) field theory descriptions of the SCFTs with manifest N=2 supersymmetry, which we argue is enhanced to N=4 in the infrared. From the UV description, we compute various partition functions of the TFTs and reproduce some basic properties of the minimal models, such as their characters and modular matrices. We expect more general correspondence between topologically twisted 3d N=4 rank-0 SCFTs and 2D nonunitary rational conformal field theories.

Explaining crowdworker behaviour through computational rationality

ABSTRACT Crowdsourcing has transformed whole industries by enabling the collection of human input at scale. Attracting high quality responses remains a challenge, however. Several factors affect which tasks a crowdworker chooses, how carefully they respond, and whether they cheat. In this work, we integrate many such factors into a simulation model of crowdworker behaviour rooted in the theory of computational rationality. The root assumption is that crowdworkers are rational and choose to behave in a way that maximises their expected subjective payoffs. The model captures two levels of decisions: (i) a worker's choice among multiple tasks and (ii) how much effort to put into a task. We formulate the worker's decision problem and use deep reinforcement learning to predict worker behaviour in realistic crowdworking scenarios. We examine predictions against empirical findings on the effects of task design and show that the model successfully predicts adaptive worker behaviour with regard to different aspects of task participation, cheating, and task-switching. To support explaining crowdworker actions and other choice behaviour, we make our model publicly available.

Corporate Social Responsibility's Impact on Purchase Intention: The Role of Involvement

As education levels rise, consumers become more aware of their consumption choices, and the flow of information becomes increasingly transparent, the significance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has grown in public and corporate spheres. This heightened attention reflects a growing consensus on the pivotal role CSR plays in shaping consumer behaviors, particularly their purchase intentions. In this evolving landscape, understanding the impact of CSR on consumer purchase decisions has become critically important for businesses aiming to align their values with consumer expectations and foster loyalty. This study leverages expectation theory and rationality theory to construct a comprehensive model that examines the influence of CSR on consumer purchase intentions. By delving into how consumers perceive CSR activities and the extent to which these perceptions influence their willingness to buy products from socially responsible companies, the research aims to provide valuable insights for businesses looking to enhance their CSR strategies. The research methodology included the distribution of questionnaires to a broad audience, resulting in 426 valid responses. Through a rigorous analytical process involving exploratory factor analysis for reliability, alongside correlation and regression analyses, the study sought to validate the hypothesis that CSR and consumer involvement have a positive impact on purchase intentions. Notably, the study also explored the moderating effect of consumer involvement in the relationship between CSR perceptions and purchase intentions. The findings reveal a significant positive correlation between CSR initiatives and consumer purchase intentions, underscoring the importance of companies engaging in socially responsible practices. Moreover, the degree of consumer involvement was found to enhance the positive impact of CSR on purchase intentions, suggesting that more engaged consumers are likely to place greater value on CSR efforts when making purchasing decisions.

What is Quantum in probabilistic explanations of the sure-thing principle violation?

The Prisoner’s Dilemma game (PDG) is one of the simple test-beds for the probabilistic nature of the human decision-making process. Behavioral experiments have been conducted on this game for decades and show a violation of the so-called sure-thing principle, a key principle in the rational theory of decision. Quantum probabilistic models can explain this violation as a second-order interference effect, which cannot be accounted for by classical probability theory. Here, we adopt the framework of generalized probabilistic theories and approach this explanation from the viewpoint of quantum information theory to identify the source of the interference. In particular, we reformulate one of the existing quantum probabilistic models using density matrix formalism and consider different amounts of classical and quantum uncertainties for one player’s prediction about another player’s action in PDG. This enables us to demonstrate that what makes possible the explanation of the violation is the presence of quantum coherence in the player’s initial prediction and its conversion to probabilities during the dynamics. Moreover, we discuss the role of other quantum information-theoretical quantities, such as quantum entanglement, in the decision-making process. Finally, we propose a three-choice extension of the PDG to compare the predictive powers of quantum probability theory and a more general probabilistic theory that includes it as a particular case and exhibits third-order interference.

In pursuit of thermal comfort: An exploration of smart heating in everyday life

Smart Home Heating Technologies (SHHT) have been designed to improve demand flexibility and energy conservation. SHHT rely on rational theories of energy use postulating that people will use less energy when the energy cost is higher. The inclusion of AI within SHHT is poised to optimise energy use in the future as the introduction of lower carbon energy sources place new demands on the grid. When SHHT is introduced in the home, however, they become situated in temporal heating practices that are shaped by an interplay of materiality, meanings, and competencies. We report findings from a mixed methods field study involving eleven households utilising an AI-enabled SHHT probe ‘Squid’. Taking a temporal focus throughout, our study contributes a new lens as to why households may not fully engage with SHHT's rational design, given that energy conversation is already embedded in their ongoing socio-material practices with heating. Focusing on the AI-human relation, we articulate the necessity for human agency where heating is involved, whilst also advancing an understanding of the new forms of hidden labour that households incur before they can engage with the AI. Crucially, our research informs the ongoing HCI concern over how humans understand AI, raising the question of who is responsible to assess the appropriateness of AI when the effects of human-AI performance remain opaque. Our findings contribute a new theoretical perspective into the intricate relationship between individuals and AI in the home and raise several new design implications for SHHT.

Analysis of China's Policy on Bridging Urban-rural Digital Divide Based on the Mixed-Scanning Model

The urban-rural digital divide is a new manifestation of regional inequality in the digital age, which has gradually received more and more attention in China in recent years. At present, China’s policies on bridging the urban-rural digital divide fall into a binary structure of some well-developed areas only needing theoretical supplements and others not sufficiently addressed. Therefore, this study introduces the Mixed-Scanning model proposed by an American scholar called A.E.Etzioni, using incrementalism theory and rationalism theory respectively to discuss policies in relevant fields. The incrementalism theory is applied to analyze the policy flaws in digital education and the digital economy. Whereas the rationalism theory is applied to policy analysis of the urban-rural digital gender divide, the combined governance model of "government + market + citizens", and policies related to the "cognitive divide". This paper concludes that STEM education and rural Internet training in digital education, as well as farmers' focus on finding their own digital positions in the era of big data in the digital economy could effectively bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas. At the same time, this paper also draws the conclusion that the government needs to pay attention to the concept and technical barriers to eliminate the urban-rural digital gender gap, and needs to mobilize the participation of citizens to bridge the urban-rural digital divide. Finally, this paper points out that AI technology is an important measure to narrow the digital "cognitive gap" in the future.

The mediating effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on heuristic techniques and cognitive biases on investment decision-making

US investors’ behavioral finance and investment decision-making approach became a concern during the COVID-19 pandemic era as the capital market crashed. The study used mediation analysis to explain how or why the COVID-19 pandemic intervened in the causal association of behavioral finance concepts of heuristic techniques and cognitive biases on their investment decision-making. This causal research design study was based on 500 snowball-sampled US investors who answered self-constructed, validated, and reliability-tested Likert-scale quantitative variables measured through a first-party data collection approach. The results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic was a specific moderate to partial significant mediator on the low positive significant relationships between heuristic techniques and investment decision-making, and the COVID-19 pandemic was a specific moderate to full significant mediator on the low positive not significant relationships between cognitive biases and investment decision-making among US investors. From the point of view of behavioral finance, the COVID-19 pandemic situation clearly and significantly demonstrated how US investors used 75.6% heuristics techniques (calculated guesses based on prior knowledge) and 87.5% cognitive biases (unintentional errors in their worldview) to cause the crash of the capital market. These findings confirm the rational expectations theory.