Social Theory and Social Structure

Robert K Merton

Edité par The Free Press, 1968

A propos de cet article

1968 enlarged edition; Black boards with gilt lettering. in good condition with clean text, firm binding. 'Social Theory and Social Structure (STSS) was a landmark publication in sociology by Robert K. Merton. It has been translated into close to 20 languages and is one of the most frequently cited texts in social sciences (Sztomka, 2003, p. 29). The book introduced many important concepts in sociology, like: manifest and latent functions and dysfunctions, obliteration by incorporation, reference groups, self-fulfilling prophecy, middle-range theory and others' (Wikipedia). 'Since its first publication in 1949, Social Theory and Social Structure has become established as a work of central importance in the social science. Providing the most systematic outline of the theoretical foundations of functional sociology, it has been widely adopted and read by social scientist throughout the world' (Rogers State University Prof. Frank Elwell's 'Robert K. Merton's Functional Analysis Resource' Web page). '[Talcott Parsons and his students] founded what came to be known as modernization theory in which US society was the model to be celebrated and emulated by the rest of the world. Alongside and in parallel with this tradition of grand theorizing there arose a powerful empirical research tradition, tied to the development of survey research and statistical methods, to buttress sociology's claim to science. Trying to bridge the two in what he called 'middle range theory,' Robert Merton wrote his brilliant essays contained in Social Theory and Social Structure (1949)' (University of California Sociology Prof. Michael Burawoy's page). '[B]oth the impact and continuing status of this collection of Merton's earlier essays can be gauged by the remark of a recent editor of the ASA's [American Sociological Association] theory journal that it is 'as close to a bible as one is likely to come when surveying social theories' ' (Rob Stones, Obituary, The London Independent, March 22, 2003). 'In 'Theories of the Middle range [Chapter 2 in the book],' Robert Merton wrote, 'Perhaps sociology is not yet ready for its Einstein because it has not yet found its Kepler.' While Merton's field is still awaiting its Einstein, it may well have had the privilege of experiencing its Kepler' (Gerald Holton, Biographical Memoir, Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 148, No. 4, Dec. 2004, pp. 516-7). Merton was 'one of those who sensed the gap between his own methodological ideals and the ways in which social scientists really proceed when they explain something, coined the notion of middle range theories. These were legitimated by reference to the deductive-nomological ideal, but allowed contextual explanations unrelated to laws. This was the main methodological conviction in all branches of variables-oriented social science, dominating Western research in the postwar period' (Lars Mjøset, 'Understanding of Theory in the Social Sciences', ARENA Working Papers WP 99/33). In 1998 the International Sociological Association listed this work as the third most important sociological book of the 20th century.

N° de réf. du vendeur 012991

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: Social Theory and Social Structure
• Éditeur: The Free Press
• Date de parution: 1968
• Langue: anglais
• Reliure: Hardcover
• État de l'article: Good
• État de la jaquette: Fair