A Study of James Coleman's Rational Choice Theory and Its Implications for Education

• Main Authors: Saw Guan Kung, 蘇源恭
• Other Authors: Wang, Li-yun
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/tbxbct

碩士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 教育學系 === 96 === The purpose of this research is to explore the sociological thought and work of James S. Coleman. Coleman’s rational choice theory was chosen as the focus of the research and the contributions of his academic works were discussed. The main goals of the research are as follows: 1. To explore the sociological thought of Coleman and its background and development. 2. To explore Coleman’s educational works and contributions. 3. To analyze the connection between Coleman’s rational choice theory and his empirical works on education. 4. To assess the Coleman's academic works and its implications for education and research of sociology of education. Based on the purpose of this research, this research begins with the introduction of Coleman’s rational choice theory and his educational works. Then, the relations between his sociological theoretical works and empirical studies were analyzed. The following are the results of the analysis : 1. Coleman’s sociological thought was mainly influenced by social exchange theory and neoclassical economics. 2. The core of Coleman’s sociological thought was rational choice theory, and the methodological individualism was his methodology tools. 3. Coleman’s educational studies contributed to his sociological theoretical works. 4. Coleman’s rational choice theory constituted the conceptual framework for understanding his educational empirical studies. This research pointed out the contributions of Coleman’s rational choice theory and his educational works on the educational and sociological theory. The critiques from others scholars also discussed in this study. Finally, the implications of Coleman’s educational works and his sociological thought are also analyzed.