Erklärt die Rational Choice Theorie die Ungleichheit der Bildungschancen?

There are several plausible arguments which make it obvious to apply Rational Choice Theory to the process of educational opportunities and equality. Looking more closely at an empirical application or RC theory, several serious problems emerge: They concern the operationalization of the variables, the explanatory power of the central variables related to Subjective Expected Utility, the systematic omission of important variables relating to individual persons and their identity, and to social structural and institutional factors; the latter seem to be much more important than those indicated by RC approaches.     

Personnel planning and information systems

Today the need for long-range planning is seen by most private and public organizations. Therefore growing attention to it is required of management in companies, in public services, in the armed services and in the school and university area. Some parts of the long-range planning problems have been widely discussed and practised. But there are some parts, which have received less attention in the business world. One of the relatively neglected areas, but one of special importance is long-range planning for personnel from the shop-floor up to top-management. This lack is remarkable, as one finds a lot of research and practical work on the use of other operations research planning systems, which cover for example queueing, inventory, production or investment problems. But in no field, is planning ahead more important than in personnel. Company growth and effectiveness depend on it. For unless a business organization has people with skill, imagination and a capacity for leadership, at the right time, its other plans may well be worthless.     

Doppelter Sozialstatus, späte Adoleszenz und Protest

By examining the specific example of Algerian migrant workers it is possible to gain insight into the living conditions of foreign workers in the GDR. Although the Algerians received professional educational training, they were relegated to unattractive jobs. Making up only a small percentage of the entire population, they aroused considerable curiosity among Germans and were subject to reduced social control by their own compatriots. Three concepts are crucial for understanding the specific situation. First, there was a status inconsistency of Algerian migrants. While their professional status was low, their western attributes brought them high prestige in their leisure time. Secondly, most of them lived a late adolescence in which alcohol and erotic relations were of particular importance. Thirdly, protests against living conditions were achieved through traditional solidarity, means of the labour movement and the creative use of western attributes. This article calls into question three general assumptions of the sociology of migrations. The Algerians did not migrate for their families but profited from the absence of family responsibilities. They did not consider themselves objects of racism, but made instead use of legitimate, physical violence. It was their private leisure time relations rather than their occupational contacts which facilitated their integration.     

In memorian Aage B. Sørensen (13.5.1941–18.4.2001)

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Instabile Beschäftigung

Sociologists and economists emphasize the relevance of employment stability for labour market participants and the welfare state. Consequently, changes in the distribution of stable and unstable employment are discussed intensively and controversially. Based on the IAB Employment Subsample 1975–2001 (regional sample) and the second collection of the SFB 580-Firmpanel the paper analyses trends and determinants of employment stability. The results show: Employment becomes more unstable. Past “barriers of mobility” of the job market theory against an expansion of open job markets, like production and receipt of firm specific knowledge or readiness to perform, prove as a little stable.     

Für Einen Moderaten Relativismus in der Wissenschaftssoziologie

The new sociology of science makes the relativist claim that social factors influence the generation and evaluation even of valid scientific knowledge, and mainly for its relativism it is sharply criticized by philosophers. The central objections of the critics concern the philosophical presuppositions and consequences of relativism. It is thus objected, on the one hand, that the relativism of the sociology of science is based on wrong philosophical assumptions about science; and, on the other hand, that the reflexivity of this relativism leads to unresolvable problems. The article provides a critical examination of the arguments given for these objections, especially of Popper’s rejection of relativism. A differentiation of two forms of relativism is proposed, and it is argued that the objections raised against relativism in general are justified for only one variety of relativism. While extreme relativism, holding that the evaluation of scientific knowledge is solely dependent on social factors, is indeed untenable, moderate relativism, holding that social factors are co-determinants of evaluation, has plausible epistemological presuppositions and allows the reflexive turn of relativism. Since moderate relativism is coherent with the research programme of the new sociology of science and the philosophical point of view, sociology of science should opt for this form of relativism.