W.I. Thomas, Robert K. Merton, and the Definition of a Common Situational Approach

Journal title SOCIOLOGIA E RICERCA SOCIALE
Author/s Vincenzo Romania
Publishing Year 2014 Issue 2014/104
Language Italian Pages 19 P. 40-58 File size 91 KB
DOI 10.3280/SR2014-104002
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This articles aims to demonstrate how it is possible to compare the sociologies of William Isaac Thomas and Robert K. Merton, defining a common situational approach. This would result in a third alternative between symbolic interactionism and functionalism, that tries to go beyond the limits of the two approaches in terms of: abstractness, scarce attention to power dynamics, implicit or explicit acceptance of status quo, weak operationalization. The author focused on the biographical and intellectual contacts between the two scholars and on analogies at an epistemological, methodological and theoretical level. Finally, the situational approach is connected with the more recent developments in sociological theory.

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  • Recent writings on Robert K Merton: a Listing and some Observations Charles Crothers, in The American Sociologist /2019 pp.121
    DOI: 10.1007/s12108-018-9387-z

Vincenzo Romania, W.I. Thomas, Robert K. Merton, and the definition of a common situational approach in "SOCIOLOGIA E RICERCA SOCIALE " 104/2014, pp 40-58, DOI: 10.3280/SR2014-104002