Robert Merton and the Sociology of Science: The Sociology of Science: Theoretical and Empirical Investigations, Robert K. Merton.

In 1949, Robert Merton asked: "Why did sociology document the problems and performance of the professional thief ... but not the problems and performance of the professional social scientist?" Unsuccessfully, he argued for a systematic study of the "social science of social science." This essay, sev...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Social Research Vol. 89; no. 2; pp. 433 - 446
Autor principal: Prewitt, Kenneth
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Johns Hopkins University Press Summer2022
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:In 1949, Robert Merton asked: "Why did sociology document the problems and performance of the professional thief ... but not the problems and performance of the professional social scientist?" Unsuccessfully, he argued for a systematic study of the "social science of social science." This essay, seven decades later, returns to Merton's question, now reframed as "using science as evidence in public policy." Policy use is less robust than it can and should be. This would not be the case if Merton's systematic study had been mounted. The good news is that it is not too late.