Rational choice theory and quantitative analysis. A comment on Goldthorpe's sociological alliance

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2234612
AutoresChristofer Edling (0000-0002-3909-1080, Stockholm University, autor correspondente)
Ano2000
Volume16
Fascículo1
Páginas1-8
Data de publicação2000-03-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoEuropean Sociological Review (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0266-7215 • E-ISSN: 1468-2672
EditoraOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/esr/16.1.1
OpenAlexW1982354691
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas8

There is a growing interest in empirical applications of rational choice theory in contemporary European Sociology. One major proponent for an explicit link between rational choice theory and large scale data analysis is John Goldthorpe. This is a critical comment on Goldthorpe's (1996a) programmatic article in European Sociological Review, 'The Quantitative Analysis of Large-Scale Data-Sets and Rational Action Theory: For a Sociological Alliance'. It is argued that the link is treated in an unproblematic and oversimplified way in that article. His claim that quantitative data analysis need rational choice theory is an overstatement, rather, it is argued, rational choice theory might sometimes be used in explanations of statistical regularities. The claim that rational choice theory needs quantitative data is rejected for being based on a dubious understanding of rational choice theory

Alliance · Criminology · Econometrics · Economics · Epistemology · Political science · Positive economics · Rational choice theory (criminology · Rational expectations · Social science · Sociological theory · Sociology · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · Law · Philosophy · Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research · Social and Cultural Dynamics