Word: rationales
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The importance of expanding the ranks of rational choice academics was put even more directly by Eaton Professor of Government Robert H. Bates, who wrote a controversial article two years ago on the need to blend quantitative research with traditional "area studies," that examine the history and culture of a...
The resulting explosion of rational choice research has left political science journals looking increasingly like calculus textbooks, a trend that infuriates traditionalists. But rational choice scholars argue that the rigor of their methodology is precisely what makes it valuable to departments like Harvard's.
For the last 50 years, political science has been the easiest major at every college in America, Shepsle says. Rational choice is changing that.
"My Core course [Social Analysis 46, "Thinking About Politics: A Rational Choice Approach"]is probably more rigorous than some course in the Government department that doesn't require the technical mastery that my course requires," Shepsle says.
Still, the renowned professor adds, if he were coming up for tenure today in Harvard's government department, the rational choice contingent would make sure that he wouldn't get it.