Written and compiled by friends and former students, The Idea of Social Structure honors Robert K. Merton, considered one of the premier sociologists of the twentieth century. Along with Talcott Parsons and Marion J. Levy, Merton was emphatic in his use of the term "social structure"—however different they were in defining and refining the term. The chapters in this volume address many of Merton's diverse sociological theories and, in turn, his theories' impact upon a very large sociological territory. The volume includes major statements on the context of working with Merton by Lewis A. Coser, Paul F. Lazarsfeld, Robert A. Nisbet, and Seymour Martin Lipset, as well as memorable statements covering Merton's interests in the sociology of knowledge and science, planning communities, medical education, relative deprivation, everyday life, political roles, and communication media. This is a powerful sourcebook for understanding the work of Merton and of his intellectual successors. Nisbet called the decade of the 1930s among the most vital and creative periods in American history. It was certainly a period of intense struggle—political, military, and ideological. But the formation of modern sociology was without question one of the crowning achievements in the scientific evolution of the century. The volume is sharply focused on Merton's work and deeply appreciative of the nature of his contribution. It is a landmark effort in the study of sociology as history.

This new printing is not a newly revised edition, only an enlarged one. The revised edition of 1957 remains intact except that its short introduction has been greatly expanded to appear here as Chapters I and II. The only other changes are technical and minor ones: the correction of typographical errors and amended indexes of subjects and names.

Originally published in 1989, this title showcased new developments, providing a systematic and in-depth overview of some of the basic issues in the field of group psychology. Subject areas range from basic group processes to complex interactive phenomena. There are international contributions, with chapters covering the latest developments in the field at the time. The volume provided students and professionals with a comprehensive, coherent, and interrelated picture of the broad scope of group influence processes. The volume was motivated by the belief that group psychology is a central and important activity for social psychology.

This book charts the state of organizational research and theory during the 1960s. A compendium of results, references, concepts ideas and theories, this Handbook will be of interest to both academics in organizational theory and managers facing operating problems of organizations.

Organizations do not have goals – only people do. Furthermore, people within the same organizations have different goals. This book takes this as its starting point, recognizing that organizations are a dynamic coalition of individuals and groups competing and co-operating as they each pursue their various objectives. Power is a fundamental part of organizational behaviour but many previous studies failed to recognize its centrality. This book remedies this.

Re-issuing volumes originally published between 1949 and 1995 this 31 volume set examines the theory and behaviour of organizations. Topics covered include: the sociology of work leadership and organizations politics at work theory and practice of company organization patterns of business organization company strategy and organizational design.