Sociologist. His works included sociological theory, method, and research. Merton is also noted for his studies in Mass Communication from the Sociological perspective. He worked closely with Paul Lazarfeld and continued Emile Durkheim's study on anomic suicide. He received his doctorate degree in 1936 at Harvard University and became a professor at Tulane University of Louisiana in New Orleans in August of 1936. After several years at Tulane, Merton began a teaching career at Columbia University in New York City in 1947, where he taught Sociology courses and was chair of the Sociology department. Merton was responsible for the coining of the phrase "self-fulfilling prophecy," which means that living life is dependent on what is given to your life by means of roles and values. This is also sometimes called "serendipity." In 1994 Merton became the first sociologist to receive a National Medal of Science. He married and had three children. His only son Robert C. Merton, received half of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Economics for "for a new method to determine the value of derivatives."
Sociologist. His works included sociological theory, method, and research. Merton is also noted for his studies in Mass Communication from the Sociological perspective. He worked closely with Paul Lazarfeld and continued Emile Durkheim's study on anomic suicide. He received his doctorate degree in 1936 at Harvard University and became a professor at Tulane University of Louisiana in New Orleans in August of 1936. After several years at Tulane, Merton began a teaching career at Columbia University in New York City in 1947, where he taught Sociology courses and was chair of the Sociology department. Merton was responsible for the coining of the phrase "self-fulfilling prophecy," which means that living life is dependent on what is given to your life by means of roles and values. This is also sometimes called "serendipity." In 1994 Merton became the first sociologist to receive a National Medal of Science. He married and had three children. His only son Robert C. Merton, received half of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Economics for "for a new method to determine the value of derivatives."
Bio by: John Baumer
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