How to instantiate object of $this class from within the class? PHP

I have a class like this: ``` class someClass { public static function getBy($method,$value) { // returns collection of objects of this class based on search criteria $return_array = array(); $sql = // get some data "WHERE `$method` = '$value' $result = mysql_query($sql); while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($result)) { $new_obj = new $this($a,$b); $return_array[] = $new_obj; } return $return_array; } } ``` My question is: can I use $this in the way I have above? Instead of: ``` $new_obj = new $this($a,$b); ``` I could write: ``` $new_obj = new someClass($a,$b); ``` But then when I extend the class, I will have to override the method. If the first option works, I won't have to. UPDATE on solutions: Both of these work in the base class: 1.) ``` $new_obj = new static($a,$b); ``` 2.) ``` $this_class = get_class(); $new_obj = new $this_class($a,$b); ``` I have not tried them in a child class yet, but I think #2 will fail there. Also, this does not work: ``` $new_obj = new get_class()($a,$b); ``` It results in a parse error: Unexpected '(' It must be done in two steps, as in 2.) above, or better yet as in 1.).