Rational-Choice Theory: Social Sciences PDF

RATIONAL-CHOICE THEORY DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES QUESTIONS: How do you make choices? What are the things you consider in making decisions? How these things are important in making choices? Justify. CHOOSE ONE! Live here in the Philippines or abroad? Be smart...

RATIONAL-CHOICE THEORY DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES QUESTIONS: How do you make choices? What are the things you consider in making decisions? How these things are important in making choices? Justify. CHOOSE ONE! Live here in the Philippines or abroad? Be smart or beautiful/handsome? Poor and happy or rich and sad? The person you love or the person who loves you? RATIONAL-CHOICE THEORY is also called “rational action theory” or “choice theory.” It states that individuals use rational calculations to make rational choices. it comes from a belief of Positivist Tradition- an argument that the source of knowledge is experiences. People make decisions/choices if there is a pleasing outcome. RATIONAL-CHOICE THEORY Human action and behavior are product of choice or decision. Individuals rationalize their situations by processing between the most beneficial choice and the lesser individual cost. RATIONAL-CHOICE THEORY Cost-benefit analysis is always performed in every given situation and is considered an instinctual response of every human. Cost is something disadvantageous to or what is lost by an individual. Benefit is something which is gained by or advantageous to the individual after making the choice. RATIONAL-CHOICE THEORY When we make decisions, we weigh up the costs and benefits and choose the option which offers the most benefit. Here are some questions commonly asked during cost-benefit analysis: Will this benefit me? How will this benefit me? What will I have to sacrifice? How much will it cost? EXAMPLE Carlo has two classmates whom he wants to be friends with: Mark, a social outcast but has the newest action game and Jay, the most popular in the class but does not like action games. EXAMPLE OF COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS Carlo's first level of cost-benefit analysis is choosing between having the chance to play the newest action game or not. His second level of cost-benefit analysis is choosing whether he would like to be associated with a social outcast or with the most popular in school. The rational choice for Carlo would be dependent on which is more important to him-to play the game or to be associated with the popular crowd.