Robert K. Merton

American sociologist (1910–2003)

prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior

person who models a social role for other people, intentionally or unintentionally

outcomes that are not the ones intended or foreseen by a purposeful action, resulting from a variety of reasons, including the world's inherent complexity as well as cognitive or emotional biases

sociological concept merging theory and empirical study

Philosophical ideals for the practice of science