Ethnomethodology

Ethnomethodology is a branch of sociology that studies the ways in which individuals and groups use everyday, routine social interactions to construct a shared social reality. Developed by Harold Garfinkel in the 1960s, ethnomethodology focuses on the "methods" people use to make sense of their everyday world. It emphasizes the process of reasoning and the practical actions through which social members produce and manage a mutually understood social order.

Origins and Development

Ethnomethodology emerged as a critique of traditional sociological approaches, which Garfinkel felt were overly abstract and detached from the realities of everyday life. He introduced the term in his 1967 book, Studies in Ethnomethodology, which has since become a seminal text in the field. Garfinkel was influenced by the work of Edmund Husserl, Alfred Schutz, and other phenomenologists, and he aimed to develop a method of sociological inquiry grounded in the lived experience of individuals.

Key Concepts

Indexicality

One of the core concepts in ethnomethodology is indexicality, which refers to the way in which the meaning of a speech act depends on the context in which it is spoken. Ethnomethodologists argue that all expressions are indexical and thus, understanding them requires knowledge of their context.

Accountability

Accountability, in ethnomethodology, refers to the idea that every action is performed in a manner that is observable and reportable. That is, individuals perform actions in ways that can be described and explained. This concept highlights how social order is maintained through the observable and reportable nature of everyday actions.

Reflexivity

Reflexivity in ethnomethodology refers to the process by which social practices are produced and understood through the very methods that constitute them. This means that the methods people use to organize their actions are essentially used to understand those actions.

Methodology

Ethnomethodology employs a range of methods to uncover the everyday practices through which people produce a sense of social order. One common method is the use of breaching experiments, where researchers intentionally disrupt social norms to reveal how people normally maintain social order. Another method is conversation analysis, which involves the detailed analysis of talk in interaction to understand how participants produce and interpret conversation.

Impact and Criticism

Ethnomethodology has been influential in various areas of sociology, particularly in the study of social interaction, conversation, and the construction of identity. However, it has also faced criticism for its perceived subjectivity and its focus on micro-level interactions at the expense of macro-level social structures.

See Also

• Sociological theory
• Phenomenology (philosophy)
• Social constructionism