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Birth - Life Overview
Robert K. Merton, was born in 1910, when William H. Taft (pictured) was president, Mark Twain died, Alzheimer's Disease and Insulin were discovered. Merton was one of the most influential sociologists of the twentieth century, producing clear theories and innovative research that continue to shape multiple disciplines. Merton's reach can be felt in the study of social structure, social psychology, deviance, professions, organizations, culture, and science. -
Graduates with A.B. from Temple University
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Graduates with PhD from Harvard University
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Published - 1st Book - Science, Technology & Society in Seventeenth-century England
A work on the connection between religion & rise of modern science. The development of science occurs only in certain cultures with a peculiar complex of tacit presuppositions & institutional constraints [The] support of science is assured only by appropriate cultural conditions. A study in what motivates scientists, what selects & gives prestige to certain disciplines & rejects or blurs others. Changes in institutional structure may curtail, modify, or prevent the pursuit of science. -
Published - Social Theory and Social Structure
Considered a landmark publication in sociology, translated into close to 20 languages, and is one of the most frequently cited texts in social sciences. In 1998 the International Sociological Association listed this work as the third most important sociological book of the 20th century. -
Elected President of the American Sociological Association
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Publishes - On the Shoulders of Giants
Merton referred to his book On the Shoulders of Giants: A Shandean Postscript as “part parody and part history of ideas.” In this work, Merton traces the history of Newton’s famous comment “If I have seen farther, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants” back to centuries earlier, in the rambling style of Laurence Sterne’s The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman. -
Period: to
Opposition from The Sociology of Scientific Knowledge (SSK)
SSK, the study of science as social activity, social conditions & effects of science, social structures & processes of scientific activity, explaining why 1 interpretation rather than another succeeds due to external social & historical circumstances. Merton had a “sociology of scientists,” leaving out the cognitive content; but SSK provided sociological explanations of scientific ideas, derived from Kuhn & cultural anthropology (Durkheim, Mauss, Wittgenstein). -
Publishes - ‘The Matthew-effect in Science: the Reward and Communication Systems of Science”
The Matthew effect is the enhancement of the position of already eminent scientists who are given disproportionate credit in cases of collaboration or of independent multiple discoveries with implications for the reward system of science. The Matthew effect may serve to heighten the visibility of contributions to science by scientists of acknowledged standing and to reduce the visibility of contributions by authors who are less well known. -
Publishes - (w/Harriet Zuckerman) ‘Patterns of Evaluation in Science: Institutionalization, Structure and Functions of the Referee System’
This paper traces the beginnings of the referee system in seventeenth-century scientific journals and examines its operation in contemporary journals, first by comparing rates of rejection of manuscripts in 15 fields of science and learning, and then, by detailed analysis of authorship and refereeing in Physical Review, the world’s leading journal of physics. -
Publishes - Insiders & Outsiders: A Chapter in the Sociology of Knowledge
Deepened social conflict renews the relevance of an old problem in the sociology of knowledge: socially patterned differentials in access to new knowledge. As groups & collectivities become more self-conscious & solidary under conditions of social polarization, members tend to claim unique or privileged access to certain kinds of knowledge: the doctrine of the Insider, including the correlative claim that the Outsider has a structurally imposed incapacity for access to such knowledge. -
Published - The Sociology of Science
The Sociology of Science is a collection of diverse and penetrating essays dealing with historical and contemporary examples, with concrete numerical data. His writing is described as elegant, lively, rich, witty, meticulous and “…a magisterial summary of the field."— Yehuda Elkana, American Journal of Sociology; and Joseph Ben-David, New York Times Book Review. -
Sociology of Science - An Episodic Memoir - Published
Merton’s weaves ‘snippets of oral history’ into his overview. Because of Merton’s central role in the development of the field, his episodic memoir became a landmark work for future scholars. They all stand on his shoulders.”— Social Forces -
Awarded - Talcott Parsons Prize by American Academy of Arts & Sciences
The prize is awarded for contributions to the social sciences. Merton was recognized as the author, co-author or editor of more than 20 books and 200 articles in scholarly journals. He was described as "the most distinguished living sociologist and a major figure in 20th century social science." -
Awarded - National Medal of Science
The first sociologist to win the medal, the nation’s highest award for basic research. Dr. Merton, of Columbia University, was recognized for his study of scientists. “Just as physicists, chemists and botanists explore the world of nature, I am observing scientists at work," Merton said. -
Death - Impact on Sociology
Merton was one of the most important sociologists of all-time. He is known for creating the “focus group” interview, “unintended consequences,” the “reference group,” “role strain,” “role model” and “self-fulfilling prophecy.” Columbia Univ. Provost Cole memorialized him, saying: He was the leader of structural-functional analysis in sociology, and of those sociologists who created social theories that can be empirically tested. His death puts an end to 20th Century sociology.
