Robert K. Merton quotes

Robert K. Merton was an influential American sociologist famous for his theories on social structure and the concept of the “self-fulfilling prophecy.” His work laid the foundation for modern sociology and contributed key concepts such as “role model” and “reference group.” He became one of the most widely cited sociologists in history and shaped the development of social science. Here are 12 of his quotes:

No man knows fully what has shaped his own thinking. (Robert K. Merton)
The extreme emphasis upon the accumulation of wealth as a symbol of success in our society militates against the completely effective control of institutionally regulated modes of acquiring a fortune. View quote
Robert K. Merton
Most institutions demand unqualified faith; but the institution of science makes skepticism a virtue. View quote
Robert K. Merton
It is likely that the emphasis upon the metaphysical and epistemological implications of the sociology of knowledge can be traced, in part, to the fact that the first proponents of this discipline stemmed largely from philosophical rather than scientific circles. The burden of further research is to turn from this welter of conflicting opinion to empirical investigations which may establish in adequate detail the uniformities pertaining to the appearance, acceptance and diffusion, or rejection and repression, development and consequences of knowledge and ideas. View quote
Robert K. Merton
[Merton states that anomie represents] An acute disjunction between the cultural norms and goals and the socially structured capacities of members of the group to act in accord with them. View quote
Robert K. Merton
Scientific research is not conducted in a social vacuum. View quote
Robert K. Merton
By social structure is meant that organized set of social relationships in which members of the society or group are variously implicated. View quote
Robert K. Merton
The last two decades have witnessed, especially in Germany and France, the rise of a new discipline, the sociology of knowledge (Wissenssoziologie), with a rapidly increasing number of students and a growing literature (even a "selected bibliography” would include several hundred titles). Since most of the investigations in this field have been concerned with the socio-cultural factors influencing the development of beliefs and opinion rather than of positive knowledge, the term. "Wissen” must be interpreted very broadly indeed, as referring to social ideas and thought generally, and not to the physical sciences, except where expressly indicated. View quote
Robert K. Merton
The ethos of science involves the functionally necessary demand that theories or generalizations be evaluated in [terms of] their logical consistency and consonance with facts. View quote
Robert K. Merton
The self-fulfilling prophecy is, in the beginning, a false definition of the situation evoking a new behaviour which makes the original false conception come "true". View quote
Robert K. Merton
The role of outstanding scientists in influencing younger associates is repeatedly emphasized in the interviews with laureates. Almost invariably they lay great emphasis on the importance of problem-finding, not only problem-solving. (Robert K. Merton)
The self-fulfilling prophecy is, in the beginning, a false definition of the situation evoking a new behavior which makes the originally false conception come true. The specious validity of the self-fulfilling prophecy perpetuates a reign of error. For the prophet will cite the actual course of events as proof that he was right from the very beginning. View quote
Robert K. Merton