Which sociologist is known as the pioneer of urban sociology and is associated with the Chicago School?

The correct answer is Robert Ezra Park, who is recognized as the pioneer of urban sociology and a key figure associated with the Chicago School. Park's work in the early 20th century focused on the social dynamics of urban environments, exploring how cities influence social behavior, relationships, and community structures. His research emphasized the importance of environmental factors and human interactions in shaping social life, making significant contributions to our understanding of urbanization and social ecology.

Park's development of theories on the city as a living organism led to important concepts, such as the "natural areas" of cities, which highlight how different neighborhoods and communities develop distinct social characteristics based on their environment and social interactions. This foundational work laid the groundwork for future urban sociological studies and influenced a generation of sociologists who followed.

While the other figures mentioned made notable contributions to sociology, they did not focus specifically on urban sociology in the same way. Robert Merton, for example, is known for his work on social structures and functions, and WEB Dubois focused on race and social inequality, which, while important, did not center on urban sociology. Max Weber, a prominent sociologist in his own right, contributed significantly to sociology overall but did not specifically pioneer urban studies as Park did.