Ethnomethodology

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses Harold Garfinkel's theory of ethnomethodology, a sociological perspective that studies the ways that people make sense of the chaotic social world. The author provides a short introduction of Garfinkel and describes the changes in the basics of, and analysis methods that ethnomethodology has undergone since its conception by Garfinkel and explains how these changes enabled more progress in the field. The paper further explains the application of ethnomethodology in fields such as education, communications and healthcare.

Outline:
Introduction
Garfinkel and Development of Ethnomethodology
Overview of Ethnomethodology
Applications of Ethnomethodology
Conclusion
References Cited

From the Paper:

"The social science of sociology is continually changing, due to the ongoing evolution of the society that it is studying. Although different methodologies, such as functionalisms, Marxism and symbolic interactionism have significant differences, they all are based on the premise that the social world is essentially orderly and that patterns of societal behavior and interaction are regular and systematic rather instead of haphazard and chaotic. A recent sociological perspective called ethnomethodology, theorized by Harold Garfinkel in the 1967 Studies in Ethnomethodology studies the ways in which people make sense of their potentially chaotic social world."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Button, G. & Dourish, P. (1996) Technomethodology Paradoxes and Possibilities. In Proceedings of ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems CHI
• Durkheim Emile. 1933 The Division of Labor in Society. Glencoe, Ill.: Free Press
• Frances, D. & Hester, S. (2004) An Invitation to Ethnomethodology: Language, Society and Interaction. New York: Sage
• French, B. (2005) Issues and Innovations in Nursing Practice. Journal of Advanced Nursing 49(2), 125-134
• Garfinkel Harold. 1952. The Perception of the Other: A Study in Social Order. Dissertation. Harvard University

More papers on Ethnomethodology:

• Research Paper # 13850 : "Phenomenology, Heuristics, Ethnomethodology & Symbolic Interactionism"
• Analytical Essay # 127883 : "Opposition Cultural Theory, Code of Street Theory"
• Comparison Essay # 9630 : "Swedish and American Cultures"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: