Paradigm of Merton's Analysis of Institutions and Its Significance for the Contemporary Era

Taking scientific institution as the focus,Robert King Merton analyses social institutions uniquely by using Middle-range theory.He analyses several functions of social institution,such as positive function and negative one,manifest function and latent one.He advances the concept of latent function creatively and furthermore,analyses that social problem is one of the products of social institution.He states that both deviance and anomie are reasons of social institution change.Merton's institutional analysis has strong referential significance for us to build a harmonious society in China.