Sociology of Science

Robert K. Merton is University Pro­fessor at Columbia.

“Thehistorical development… isbeautifully chronicled by Robert K. Merton, the father and presiding genius of American-style sociology of science.”—Science “Merton’s memoirs about this rising field of social studies… establishes the antecedents of the field.”—Choice “[Merton’s] account assumes a fasci­nating essay… which weaves ‘snip­pets of oral history’ into his overview. Because of Merton’s central role in the development of the field, his episodic memoir will certainly become a land­mark work for future scholars. They all stand on his shoulders.”—Social Forces