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A basic problem for a rational choice theory of mass political action is to explain why average citizens would participate in such behavior, since they have nothing to gain by participating (they won’t receive compensation for participating but will receive the public good if they participate or not) but much to lose (it can be costly and harmful to participate). According to the rational theory, the incentive to participate must come from the expectation of receiving selective benefits; but since average citizens in a general case cannot expect substantial private material rewards, the relevant benefits must be psychological in nature. A public goods model is proposed stating that the value of revolution in terms of public goods can be a relevant incentive for participation. Using data from surveys conducted in Egypt, we investigate the relationship between participation in mass political action and measures of the incentives of public goods. Hypotheses of the public goods model are supported.

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En förutsättning för att kunna förhindra att terrorattacker utförs är kunskap om de bakomliggande motiven och drivkrafterna. Om vi känner till de bakomliggande motiven och drivkrafterna finns det möjlighet att kunna påverka dessa faktorer och därigenom minska risken för nya terrorattacker. I den här studien undersöker jag om collective action frames och rational choice teorin var för sig eller tillsammans kan förklara orsakerna till terrorism. Fram till idag har den strategiska modellen varit den mest använda teorin för att förklara orsaker till terrorism. Modellen utgår från rational choice teorin men har avgränsats till att enbart hantera politiska faktorer, vilket har kritiserats. Kritikerna menar att människors känslor har en betydelse för deras handlingar. Här prövar jag två teorier som teoretiskt kan förklara känslornas betydelse för att människor utför terrorhandlingar, dels rational choice teorin och dels collective action frames. Studien visar att teorierna kompletterar varandra men det är enbart rational choice teorin som förklarar orsaker till handlingarna, och då endast rationellt motiverade instrumentella handlingar. Det är många handlingar som inte kan förklaras med någon av teorierna. Slutsatsen är att det sannolikt inte finns en generell teori som kan förklara alla olika typer av handlingar ner till en sådan detaljnivå att resultatet faktiskt är användbart. Det finns många olika motiv och drivkrafter som kan ligga bakom en handling och det finns så många olika användningsområden för resultaten att en enda teori skulle bli oanvändbar då det sannolikt är alldeles för många parametrar att hantera inom ett och samma teoribygge.

Many researchers in the social science, includes the political science, insist that the main stream of theory of social science depends on structural foundation. But we tried to provided new approach for social science through Elster¡¦s view, on the hand, we clarified what reductionism is, on the other hand, we believed the social science can connect with the natural science by the reductive approach. In order to prove that the natural science¡¦s foundation is the reductive mechanism, we researched the philosophy of natural science and stressed the importance of the ontology and the epistemology. We confirmed the foundation of natural science is micro-mechanism. Elster re-interpret Rational Choice and Marxism through cognition psychology and game theory. We can increase the research range of human behaviors, moral and culture through the intensive explanation.

In this study, problem solving provided deeper meaning and understanding through the implementation of a structured problem solving strategy with the teaching of rational numbers. This action-research study was designed as a quasi-experimental model with a control closely matched to an experimental group using similar demographics and number of economically disadvantaged students. In comparison to the control group, the experimental group received their instruction in rational numbers with the addition of a structured problem solving strategy, and a pre/posttest on problem solving with proportionality between similar geometric figures, converting fractions to percents, proportionality with a given ratio, expression of a ratio, and appropriate application of ratios. The study indicates that a structured problem solving strategy can improve the mathematical accuracy, approach and the explanation of rational numbers that are focused on rates, ratio, proportion, and percents. Results showed a statistically significant difference in the performance of these two groups. Effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported to support the findings. When examining subgroups, the study showed the structured problem solving stratey not only improved students' ability to understand and use rational numbers but also improved students' problem solving skills and their attitude towards problem solving. The experimental group showed the most improvement in the approach to solving problems with rational numbers indicating deeper understanding of rates, ratios, proportions and percents.

The rational choice theory provides good explanations of the factors on juvenile delinquency: the decision-making mechanism of delinquency is as same as the other activities, is based on the rationality. Juveniles will increase the probability of delinquency if the expected utility exceeds the expected cost; oppositely, they will reduce the probability of delinquency if the expected cost exceeds the expected utility. This proposed research from the perspective of rational choice is to study the influence between juveniles¡¦ individual rationality and delinquency and intend to provide the reasonable explanation to provide the reasonable explanation to juvenile delinquency. But besides individual rational choice factor, the degree of social bond will also have the influence to juvenile delinquency, therefore this research will also simultaneously discuss the mediate effects of the society bonds to the rational choice and juvenile delinquency. Our results suggest that the rational choice (perception of risks and self-imposed costs) and the social bonds (attachment and belief) are negatively related to juvenile delinquency. The society bonds (attachment and belief) could mediate the effects of the rational choice and juvenile delinquency. The interaction between demographic characteristics and rational choice has few effect on juvenile delinquency.

Fachhochschule (FH), Diplomarbeit--Trier, 2006. / Nebent.: SAP Web DYNPRO versus IBM Portlets.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2009. / Adviser: Juli K. Dixon. Includes bibliographical references (p. 251-259).