It is one of the most frequently cited works in the social sciences as it is a collection of theories and insights within structural functional paradigm. First, for the individuals involved, since it enables them to adapt to the circumstances in which they find themselves. Robert merton s contribution to sociology is one of great importance in regards to the functional perspective of society. Merton r n the first volume of tlle first american journal devoted entirely to the subject of sociology, the role proper to the sociologist zwas described in these forthright terms. Merton social theory and social structure see other formats. Mertons strain theory is an important contribution to the study of crime and deviance in the 1940s it helped to explain why crime continued to exist in countries, such as america, which were experiencing increasing economic growth and wealth. Merton, american sociologist whose diverse interests included the sociology of science and the professions, sociological theory, and mass communication. On sociological theories of the middle range 1949 csun.
Merton is best known for his theoretical contributions concerning the. Pdf on aug 4, 1910, jeffreyson wahalng and others published robert. This presentation is based on the theories of robert king merton as presented in his works. Mertons reach can be felt in the study of social structure, social psychology, deviance, professions, organizations, culture, and science. When he published his classic science, technology, and society in seventeenthcentiiry england in 1938. To merton all these postulates were nonempirical products of armchair sociology. Yet for all his fame, merton is only partially understood. Robert k mertons strain theory explained sociology.
In 1994 he was awarded the national medal of science for his. Middlerange theory is principally used in sociology to guide empirical inquiry. Given our cultural stigmatization of manual labor,101 and its correlate, the prestige. There has never been a celebrated historical theory so cautiously framed, so methodologically eclectic, so hedged. An introduction to the sociology of deviant behavior and social disorganization. Social theory exam 1 robert merton flashcards quizlet. His contributions have sparked research on deviant behavior, or studies of criminality. It was one of the principle reasons he used to explain suicide. University where he is the giddings professor of sociology. Mertons broad thematic range and insistence on middlerange theories made it difficult for many. 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. A study in sociological semantics and the sociology of science with elinor barber. Apr 16, 2016 mertons strain theory is an important contribution to the study of crime and deviance in the 1940s it helped to explain why crime continued to exist in countries, such as america, which were experiencing increasing economic growth and wealth. Merton is unarguably one of the most influential sociologists of his time.
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. Merton and other functionalists viewed society as an organism with various. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. 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. In conceiving of society as a system it becomes natural to see it, like other systems, as composed of parts.
Karin knorr cetina university of bielefeld merton the founder of the sociology of science even his enemies admit that merton is the founder of the sociology of science. He changed his name at the age of 14 to robert merton, which evolved out of a teenage career as an amateur magician as he blended the names of famous magicians. In conceiving of society as a system it becomes natural to see it, like other systems, as composed of p. Merton social theory and social structure by robert k. Merton, on sociologicaltheoriesof the middle range, pp. There have been three major approaches to func tionalism, each best represented by parsons, merton and luhmann in this chronological order. Pdf among the most influential sociologists of the modern era, robert k. The basic sources are the three articles included in part iii of social theory and social structure, the sociology of knowledge and mass communications merton 1957, and a second direction indicated in mertons thesis on puritanism in science, technology and society in seventeenth century england merton 1970or as harriet zukermann. Merton, in full robert king merton, original name meyer robert schkolnick, born july 4, 1910, philadelphia, pennsylvania, u. According to george ritzers shrewd precis of mertons thinking, there is an ideological bias to talk of functions when the focus is only on adaptation or adjustment.
According to robert mertons strain theory, there are 5 different types of people who make efforts for the future. Giddens and sutton 2017 essential concepts in sociology. Functionalism is to be seen as being formed of an amalgam of component ideas, some of which are emphasized and focused on. Merton 19102003 merton on structural functionalism. His primary sub field, however, was the sociology of science. Robert k mertons strain theory explained sociology tutor2u. A crossnational study ruohui zhao, university of macau liqun cao, university of ontario institute of technology we apply durkheims social transitional theory to explain the variation of anomie in 30 nations in the world. Robert king merton 19102003 is a selfstyled durkheimian, writing very much in the functional tradition.
Social theory and social structure is a landmark work by robert king merton first published in 1949. In 1998 the international sociological association listed this work as the third most important sociological book of the 20th century. Robert k merton was born in 1910 in the usa and is credited with coining the terms selffulfilling prophecy and role models as well as extensive research into the concept of the american dream. 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. And second, for society as a whole since modes of individual adaptation help to maintain the boundaries between acceptable and nonacceptable forms of behaviour.
Merton s analysis suggests that deviant behaviour is functional. No real space was allowed to the sociology of science developed by. The enduring theoretical significance of strain theory lies in its sociological completeness. However, equal access to those goals did not exist. Merton on social structure and science, the heritage of sociology edited and with an introduction by piotr sztompka. Merton s strain theory is an important contribution to the study of crime and deviance in the 1940s it helped to explain why crime continued to exist in countries, such as america, which were. Robert mertons contributions to the sociology of deviance.
Sociology, social theory, social structure, social science, sociological theory collection. Other articles where social theory and social structure is discussed. Mertons most popular book is social theory and social structure. Social theorists need be meek men, and should stand with head uncovered before the special. By bringing together different aspects of his work in one volume, calhoun illuminates the interdisciplinary and unifying dimensions of mertons approach, while also advancing the intellectual agenda of an increasingly vital area of study. Pdf over the period of three quarters of a century, robert k. A more complete summary of mertons theories as well as the theories of other macrotheorists can be found in macrosociology. One must build upon past achievements and failures to gain new knowledge in the field of sociology.
Robert mertons contribution to sociology is one of great importance in regards to the functional perspective of society. Sep 04, 2014 to merton all these postulates were nonempirical products of armchair sociology. This paper assesses the theoretical and policy significance of one of robert merton s most influential contributions to modern sociology, the anomie or strain theory of deviant behavior. A paradigm for functional analysis in sociology find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Yet many of mertons key concepts for the analysis of social life centered on the cultural domain, mated with structural variables read online download pdf. Schkolnick in philadelphia into a working class eastern european jewish immigrant family. Philip bourgeois 1996 in search of respect shows us that some of the most despised criminals have actually internalised mertons success goals. It was durkheim who used the concept of anomie to refer to a situation of normlessness, where there is a lack of cultural guides to behaviour that can regulate the actions of individuals, or alternately, a situation in which a persons unlimited aspirations exceed the opportunities available to them. On the edge carl nightingale developed mertons strain theory, applying it to inner city youths in the 1990s.
Like other sociologists, merton believed that society provides individuals with life. Combining data from two sources the 1995 world val. A crossnational study ruohui zhao liqun cao social forces, volume 88, number 3, march 2010, pp. Merton strain theory for merton deviance is the result of a strain between the goals that a culture encourages and how the structure of society allows them to achieve these things legitimately merton argued that in the usa the pursuit of the american dream leads to deviant and criminal behaviour. Merton is regarded as the founder of the institutionalistic approach of sociology of science, in which he emphasizes the autonomy of academic research. Functionalism is to be seen as being formed of an amalgam of component ideas, some of which are emphasized and focused on by those three scholars. He defined the interrelationship between social theory and empirical research, advancing a structuralfunctional approach to the study of society and. The word anomie derives from the greek word arwmia, meaning lawlessness or. Robert merton while alevel sociology teachers will be very familiar with the kind of traditional strain theory formulated by writers like merton they are probably lessfamiliar with its contemporary updating.
He spent most of his career teaching at columbia university, where he attained the rank of university professor. Merton studied under talcott parsons at harvard and later became professor at columbia. 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 also sought to integrate sociology with the institutional analysis of science, each informing the other. In this update we look briefly at traditional strain theory and suggest a morecontemporary interpretation that can be introduced to.