Discover book depositorys huge selection of robert k merton books online. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features. A figure whose wideranging theoretical and methodological contributions have become fundamental to the field, merton is best known for introducing such concepts and procedures as unanticipated consequences, selffulfilling prophecies, focused group interviews, middlerange theory, opportunity structure, and. Selected fulltext books and articles social theory. Mertons reach can be felt in the study of social structure, social psychology, deviance, professions, organizations, culture, and science. With playfulness and a large dose of wit, robert merton traces the origin of newtons aphorism, if i have seen farther, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. Merton and elinor barber from the names of cruise lines and bookstores to an australian ranch and a nudist camp outside of atlanta, the word serendipitythat happy blend of wisdom and luck by which something is discovered not quite by accidentis today. Merton went on to graduate school at harvard where he received his ph. Schkolnick in philadelphia into a working class eastern european jewish immigrant family. A study in sociological semantics and the sociology of science robert k. His many books include social theory and social structure and on the shoulders of giants. Mertons definition of serendipity, the reader will find unanticipated observations yielding an unanticipated kind of new knowledge. It has been translated into close to 20 languages and is one of the most frequently cited texts in social sciences.
Mertons inter vention d efinitely extended the life of functionalism, with the introduction of some valid new concepts. Merton harvard university t here persists a notable tendency in sociological theory to attribute the malfunctioning of social structure primarily to those of mans imperious biological drives which are not adequately restrained by social control. Social theory and social structure robert king merton. The theory states that society puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals such as the american dream, though they lack the means. Social theory and social structure, and sociology of. Merton, including on theoretical sociology, and on the shoulders of giants.
Robert cox merton born july 31, 1944 is an american economist, nobel memorial prize in economic sciences laureate, and professor at the mit sloan school of management, known for his pioneering contributions to continuoustime finance, especially the first continuoustime option pricing model, the blackscholesmerton model. His contributions have sparked research on deviant behavior, or studies of criminality. In 1993 merton cofounded hedge fund longterm capital management. The book succeeds brilliantly in integrating the multifaceted yet deeply interconnected sociocognitive and semantic strands of the mertonian oeuvre. Merton 19102003 born of poor jewish immigrant parents from eastern europe, merton has become one of the leading proponents of structural functionalism and influential figures in modern sociology. Strain theory has become popular with contemporary sociologists. Robert king merton, 19102003, american sociologist, b. We deliver the joy of reading in 100% recycled packaging with free standard shipping on u. Merton, who died in 2003, was one of the leading sociologists of the twentieth century. It has been translated into close to 20 languages and is one of. Download robert k merton in pdf and epub formats for free. Merton 19102003 was one of the most influential sociologists of the twentieth century, producing clear theories and innovative.
Merton 19102003 was one of the most influential sociologists of the twentieth century, producing clear theories and innovative research that continue to shape multiple disciplines. Merton, a professor of sociology at the columbia university and his mother was suzanne carhart from a methodist quaker family from new jersey. It provided the intellectual foundation for mertons attempt to develop a macrolevel explanation of rates of norm violating behaviour in american society. Merton social theory and social structure see other formats. The exploration of the social conditions that facilitate or retard the search for scientific knowledge has been the major theme of robert k. Merton was born in new york, new york state, usa on july 31, 1944. Merton 19102003 is dated from the perspective of the contemporary pragmatism prevailing in todays academic philosophy of science. He spent most of his career teaching at columbia university, where he attained the rank of university professor. This leads to strain which may lead individuals to commit crimes, like selling drugs or becoming involved in prostitution as a means to. The multicultural and classic readings by charles lemert westview press, 1999 2nd edition librarians tip. Using as a model the discursive and digressive style of sternes tristram shandy, merton presents a whimsical yet scholarly work which deals with the questions of creativity, tradition, plagiarism, the transmission of. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. He is considered a founding father of modern sociology and a major contributor to criminology. It was first published in 1949, although revised editions of 1957 and 1968 are often cited.
It is the relationship of the individual with the group. Merton referred to his book on the shoulders of giants. Strain theory is a sociology and criminology theory developed in 1938 by robert k. Merton, in full robert king merton, original name meyer robert schkolnick, born july 4, 1910, philadelphia, pennsylvania, u. Argues that crime is a result of people being socialised into expecting success but not achieving this success due to limited opportunities. Mertons most popular book is social theory and social structure. Merton was born in philadelphia and graduated from temple univ. In 1994 he was awarded the national medal of science for his contributions to the field and for having founded the sociology of science.
Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Robert mertons contribution to sociology is one of great importance in regards to the functional perspective of society. Merton developed notable concepts such as unintended consequences, the reference group, and role strai. Sociology of science and sociology as science a columbia ssrc book hardcover september 7, 2010. This collection of papers is a fascinating overview of this sustained inquiry. Elinor barber was, at the time of her death, research associate at columbia university. The selffulfilling prophecy is, in the beginning, a false definition of the situation evoking a new behavior which makes the originally false conception come true. Social theory and social structure was a landmark publication in sociology by robert k. Merton is unarguably one of the most influential sociologists of his time. Robert k merton book also available for read online, mobi, docx and mobile and kindle reading. Robert merton in his theoretical analysis of social structure and anomie takes inspiration from durkheims work. She is a coauthor of bridges to knowledge and increasing faculty diversity. Theoretical and empirical investigations 1973, and the travels and adventures of serendipity 2003. Mertons notable books include social theory and social structure 1949.
Merton has 46 books on goodreads with 7557 ratings. He was an exemplary disciplinebuilder who formulated key concepts with which to perceive and solve sociological problems, a masterful teacher, and a kind colleague. A shandean postscript as otsogpart parody and part history of ideas according to the. Sociologists call any group that individuals use as a standard for evaluating themselves and their own behaviour a reference group.
Merton was born july 4, 1910, and his extraordinary life story evokes both a very american trajectory appropriate to the holiday birthday and the. Merton an excerpt from social theory and social structure begins on p. But merton is still ahead of his time relative to todays academic sociologists, who construe sociology as social psychology. Robert k merton reference groups best ias institute in. Merton, one of the most influential sociologists of the 20th century, whose coinage of terms like selffulfilling prophecy and role models filtered from his academic pursuits. Merton has 46 books on goodreads with 7618 ratings. Social theory and social structure robert king merton snippet view 1968.
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