The trend toward ever-greater specialization in many areas of intellectual life has lead to fragmentation that deprives scholars of the ability to communicate even in closely adjoining fields. The emergence of the rational action paradigm as the inter-lingua of the social sciences is a remarkable exception to this trend. It is the one paradigm that offers the promise of bringing greater theoretical unity across disciplines such as economics, sociology, political science, cognitive psychology, moral philosophy and law. The paradigm is also important for efforts to solve pressing social problems, because it provides the theoretic basis for most public policy analysis.
Rationality and Society provides an interdisciplinary forum in which theoretic developments, empirical research, and policy analyses that are relevant to the rational action paradigm can be shared.
Contributions and Controversy
Work based on the theory of rational choice is one of the most dynamic in the social sciences, and developments in rational choice have generated extensive controversy. This theoretical movement is growing rapidly in its applications for:
collective action
emergence of norms
prejudice and discrimination
gender studies
law and society
the family
emotions
Social Research and Theory
Rationality and Society is an international journal focusing on the latest social research and theory using rational choice as its foundation. The journal publishes scholarly articles that further this research and theory, but its pages are also open to work that challenges this theoretical direction.
Rationality and Society contains pure theory, as well as qualitative and quantitative research, and policy analysis.
Discussion and Debate
Rationality and Society actively solicits comments and criticism on papers published in its own pages. The Forum is a section which promotes open and critical debate. This often spirited scholarly discourse contributes to the intellectual vitality and further development of rational choice-based theory and research.
Instructions to Authors
Manuscript Submission Guidelines:
Rationality and Society is an international journal that focuses on the growing contributions of rational-choice-based theory to social science analysis. Authors are encouraged to submit original papers dealing in social theory and social research based on the rational-choice paradigm, as well as work challenging this approach. The editors seek in particular to re-establish the connection of sociological discourse with work from moral philosophy, economics, political science, cognitive psychology and game theory. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches, both theoretical and empirical works, are welcome.
Prospective authors should send four copies of their manuscript to the Editor. Papers should include a short abstract of no more than 150 words, and up to 5 key words, on a separate page. Authors should also send a brief biographical sketch of 100 words or fewer, with current job title and affiliation, research interests and recent publications or projects. The author(s) name(s) and affiliation should appear on a separate cover sheet to facilitate anonymous review. Authors should supply their current address and telephone number and, if possible, fax and email addresses. Papers will not be returned to authors.
Manuscripts should be typewritten on A4 or US standard size paper. All materials, including end notes and references, should be double spaced. End notes, tables and figures should appear on separate pages at the end of the paper. Figures should be supplied in camera-ready form, and must be originals, not photocopies. If generated by computer, the artwork must be at least of laser quality. The social science substance of papers employing mathematics should be accessible to readers who will not follow the mathematical derivations.
Rationality and Society follows the Chicago Manual of Style for the format of references. References to journal articles should be in the following form:
Platt, I. 1973. 'Social Traps.' American Psychologist 28: 641-51.
References to books should follow this form:
Allison, G.T. 1972. The Essence of Decision. Boston, MA: Little, Brown.
A copy of the final revised manuscript saved on an IBM-compatible disk should be included with the final revised hard copy. Submission of a manuscript implies commitment to publish in the journal. Authors submitting manuscripts to the journal should not simultaneously submit them to another journal, nor should manuscripts have been published elsewhere in substantially similar form or with substantially similar content. Authors in doubt about what constitutes prior publication should consult the Editor.
Copyright. Before publication authors are requested to assign copyright to SAGE Publications, subject to retaining their right to reuse the material in other publications written or edited by themselves and due to be published at least one year after initial publication in this journal.
Authors are sent proofs of their article and 25 offprints of the published version, plus one copy of the journal on publication. Authors are responsible for obtaining permission from copyright holders for reproducing any illustrations, tables, figures or lengthy quotations previously published elsewhere.
All submissions and enquiries should be sent to:
Sally Atwater, Managing Editor, Rationality and Society, Uris Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. rationality@cornell.edu
Why Choose Rationality and Society?