Rational choice theory is perhaps one of the best known methodological approaches to the explanation of individual action. Individuals are a unit of analysis at which to study society, but it should be remembered that society is not just made up of a large number of individuals, but contains groups and organizations and so any general sociological theory should be able to explain how social structures come into being and how they are maintained. Rational choice theory explains how human beings behave, but there are some limitations of the theory.
Rational choice theory is based on the idea that individuals act for a particular purpose, that is to maximize their utility. In its simplest form rational choice theory states that given a number of options people do what they believe is likely to have the best overall outcome. In the field of political science, rational choice theory is used. Rational choice theorists argue that the study of political analysis need not necessarily......

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Title: Rational Choice
Approximate Word Count: 926
Approximate Pages: 4 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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