Robert K. Merton

Nobel Prize winning Sociologist. His works included Sociological theory, method, and research. Merton is also noted for his studies in Mass Communication by 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 and became a professor at Tulane in August of 1936. After several years at Tulane, Merton began a teaching career at Columbia University 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 dependant on what is given to your life by means of roles and values. This is also sometimes called "serendipity". Merton won the Nobel Prize for Science in 1994. His work on the Serendipity and Self-Fulfilling Prophecy was the basis of the award. (bio by: John Baumer) From http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9400513&a...

See more extensive bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_K._Merton