Introductory Sociology: Social Interaction - Ethnomethodology Harold Garfinkel Breaching Experiments

What It Is

Ethnomethodology is a sociological approach that studies how people make sense of their everyday interactions and social situations. It focuses on the methods people use to construct and negotiate meaning in their social worlds. For example, imagine you're at a coffee shop and someone accidentally spills coffee on you. You might say, "Oh, sorry about that!" and the other person apologizes. This exchange is an example of ethnomethodology in action, as we're using our social norms and expectations to make sense of the situation and respond appropriately. Sociologists care about ethnomethodology because it helps us understand how social order is maintained and how people create meaning in their interactions.

Must-Know Facts

• Ethnomethodology was developed by Harold Garfinkel in the 1950s and 1960s.
• Garfinkel's breaching experiments involved intentionally disrupting social norms to observe how people responded.
• Breaching experiments were used to study how people maintain social order in everyday interactions.
• Membership categorization is a key concept in ethnomethodology, referring to the ways people use categories (e.g., "student," "teacher") to make sense of social situations.
• Indexicality refers to the use of context-dependent cues (e.g., tone of voice, body language) to convey meaning.
• Ethnomethodologists study everyday life to understand how people create and negotiate meaning.
• Garfinkel's work was influenced by Erving Goffman's dramaturgical approach.
• Ethnomethodology is distinct from phenomenology, which focuses on subjective experience.
• Garfinkel's breaching experiments were conducted at UCLA in the 1950s.
• Membership categorization devices (MCDs) are used to create and negotiate social categories.
• Indexical expressions are used to convey meaning through context-dependent cues.
• Garfinkel's work was critical of positivism and structural functionalism.
• Ethnomethodology emphasizes the importance of context in understanding social interactions.
• Garfinkel's breaching experiments involved deliberately disrupting social norms.
• Membership categorization is used to create and negotiate social roles.
• Indexicality is used to convey meaning through context-dependent cues.

Common Misunderstandings

Misunderstanding: Ethnomethodology is a type of phenomenology. Correction: Ethnomethodology is distinct from phenomenology, as it focuses on the methods people use to construct and negotiate meaning in their social worlds, rather than subjective experience.

Misunderstanding: Breaching experiments were used to study abnormal behavior. Correction: Breaching experiments were used to study how people maintain social order in everyday interactions by intentionally disrupting social norms.

Misunderstanding: Ethnomethodology is only concerned with individual interactions. Correction: Ethnomethodology is concerned with understanding how people create and negotiate meaning in their social worlds, including interactions with others.

Misunderstanding: Garfinkel's work was not influential in the development of sociology. Correction: Garfinkel's work on ethnomethodology has had a significant influence on the development of sociology, particularly in the areas of social interaction and everyday life.

Practice Questions

Question: What is the primary focus of ethnomethodology? A) Studying social structures B) Understanding how people create and negotiate meaning in their social worlds C) Analyzing social institutions D) Examining social change

Answer: B) Understanding how people create and negotiate meaning in their social worlds Why correct: Ethnomethodology focuses on the methods people use to construct and negotiate meaning in their social worlds.

Question: Who developed the concept of ethnomethodology? A) Erving Goffman B) Harold Garfinkel C) Peter Berger D) Thomas Luckmann

Answer: B) Harold Garfinkel Why correct: Garfinkel developed the concept of ethnomethodology in the 1950s and 1960s.

Question: What is the purpose of breaching experiments in ethnomethodology? A) To study abnormal behavior B) To understand how people maintain social order in everyday interactions C) To analyze social institutions D) To examine social change

Answer: B) To understand how people maintain social order in everyday interactions Why correct: Breaching experiments are used to study how people maintain social order in everyday interactions by intentionally disrupting social norms.

Question: What is membership categorization in ethnomethodology? A) The use of categories to create and negotiate social roles B) The use of context-dependent cues to convey meaning C) The study of social institutions D) The analysis of social change

Answer: A) The use of categories to create and negotiate social roles Why correct: Membership categorization refers to the ways people use categories (e.g., "student," "teacher") to make sense of social situations.

Question: What is indexicality in ethnomethodology? A) The use of context-dependent cues to convey meaning B) The study of social institutions C) The analysis of social change D) The use of categories to create and negotiate social roles

Answer: A) The use of context-dependent cues to convey meaning Why correct: Indexicality refers to the use of context-dependent cues (e.g., tone of voice, body language) to convey meaning.

Quick Revision

• Harold Garfinkel developed ethnomethodology in the 1950s and 1960s.
• Breaching experiments were used to study how people maintain social order in everyday interactions.
• Membership categorization is used to create and negotiate social roles.
• Indexicality is used to convey meaning through context-dependent cues.
• Ethnomethodology emphasizes the importance of context in understanding social interactions.
• Garfinkel's work was critical of positivism and structural functionalism.
• Ethnomethodology is distinct from phenomenology.
• Garfinkel's breaching experiments were conducted at UCLA in the 1950s.
• Membership categorization devices (MCDs) are used to create and negotiate social categories.
• Indexical expressions are used to convey meaning through context-dependent cues.
• Garfinkel's work was influenced by Erving Goffman's dramaturgical approach.
• Ethnomethodology focuses on everyday life to understand how people create and negotiate meaning.
• Garfinkel's breaching experiments involved deliberately disrupting social norms.
• Membership categorization is used to create and negotiate social roles.
• Indexicality is used to convey meaning through context-dependent cues.
Garfinkel's work was not widely recognized until the 1970s.
Ethnomethodology has been influential in the development of sociology, particularly in the areas of social interaction and everyday life.