Table of Contents
- The Foundations of Ethnomethodology
- Core Concepts of Ethnomethodology
- Ethnomethodological Research Methods
- Applications and Implications of Ethnomethodology
- Criticisms and Debates
- Conclusion
- Think!
- Essay Suggestions
- Research Suggestions
- Further Reading
Ethnomethodology, originating from the field of sociology, is a distinctive methodological approach that investigates the everyday methods individuals use to make sense of and produce the social order. Developed by Harold Garfinkel in the 1960s, ethnomethodology diverges from traditional sociological approaches by focusing on the micro-level of social interaction. Instead of studying large-scale social structures or systems, ethnomethodologists examine the implicit, routine practices through which people construct their social realities.
The Foundations of Ethnomethodology
Harold Garfinkel and the Emergence of Ethnomethodology:
Harold Garfinkel, influenced by phenomenology, particularly the work of Alfred Schutz, sought to understand how individuals create and maintain a shared sense of social order. Garfinkel’s seminal work, “Studies in Ethnomethodology” (1967), laid the groundwork for this field. He posited that social order is not a pre-given structure but an ongoing accomplishment achieved through individuals’ interactions and practices.
Theoretical Influences:
Ethnomethodology draws heavily from phenomenology, especially Schutz’s concepts of the lifeworld and intersubjectivity. Phenomenology’s focus on how individuals experience and interpret their world informs ethnomethodology’s concern with the mundane, taken-for-granted aspects of social life. Additionally, Ludwig Wittgenstein’s later philosophy, emphasizing the rule-governed nature of language and actions, significantly influenced Garfinkel’s thinking.
Core Concepts of Ethnomethodology
Reflexivity:
Reflexivity in ethnomethodology refers to the idea that social actions are both the product and the source of the social order. Individuals’ actions are shaped by the context in which they occur, but these actions simultaneously produce and define that context. This cyclical relationship highlights how social reality is continuously constructed and reconstructed.
