Robert King Merton

(July 4, 1910 - February 23, 2003)

Robert King Merton was born to immigrant parents. He was a distinguished American sociologist perhaps best known for having coined the phrase "self-fulfilling prophecy." He also coined many other phrases that have gone into everyday use, such as "role model" and "unintended consequences". He spent most of his career teaching at Columbia University, where he attained the rank of University Professor. It is a popular misconception that Robert K. Merton was one of Talcott Parsons’ students. Parsons was only a junior member of his dissertation committee, the others being Pitirim Sorokin, Carle C. Zimmermanm and the historian of science, George Sarton. The dissertation, a quantitative social history of the development of science in seventeenth-century England, reflected this interdisciplinary committee. Merton was heavily influenced by Pitirim Sorokin, who tried to balance large-scale theorizing with a strong interest in empirical research and statistical studies. Sorokin and Paul Lazarsfeld influenced Merton to occupy himself with middle-range theories.

Merton carried out extensive research into the sociology of science, developing the Merton Thesis explaining some of the causes of the scientific revolution, and the Mertonian norms of science, often referred to by the acronym "Cudos". This is a set of ideals that are dictated by what Merton takes to be the goals and methods of science and are binding on scientists. They include communalism, universalism, disinterestedness, organized skepticism. Communalism - the common ownership of scientific discoveries, according to which scientists give up intellectual property rights in exchange for recognition and esteem. Merton actually used the term Communism, but had this notion of communalism in mind, not Marxism.

Universalism - according to which claims to truth are evaluated in terms of universal or impersonal criteria, and not on the basis of race, class, gender, religion, or nationality.

Disinterestedness - according to which scientists are rewarded for acting in ways that outwardly appear to be selfless.

Organized Skepticism - all ideas must be tested and are subject to rigorous, structured community scrutiny.

The CUDOS set of Mertonian scientific norms is sometimes identified as Communism, Universalism, Disinterestedness, Originality (novelty in research contributions), and Skepticism (instead of Organized Skepticism). This is a subsequent modification of Merton's norm set, as he did not refer to Originality in the essay that introduced the norms.

He introduced many relevant concepts to the field, among them 'obliteration by incorporation' (when a concept becomes so popularized that its inventor is forgotten) and 'multiples' (theory about independent similar discoveries). Another much-discussed contribution was his identification of the Matthew effect.

1. Name the following scientists in Russian:

Carle C. Zimmermanm; George Sarton; Paul Lazarsfeld.

2. Translate the following sociological terms:

self-fulfilling prophecy; role model; unintended consequences; middle-range theories; communalism; universalism; disinterestedness; organized skepticism; The CUDOS set of Mertonian scientific norms; obliteration by incorporation; multiples; the Matthew effect.

3. Translate the following words and phrases:

coin; attain the rank of University Professor; misconception; a junior member; a quantitative social history; interdisciplinary committee; large-scale theorizing; empirical research; statistical studies; carry out extensive research into; acronym; bind on scientists; relevant concepts.

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