Ethnomethodology UPSC

Ethnomethodology is a sociological perspective that focuses on the ways people make sense of their everyday social interactions. Developed by Harold Garfinkel in the 1960s, it explores how individuals use common sense methods and practices to construct a shared social reality. Ethnomethodologists study the everyday activities of people to understand the underlying social orders.

Key Thinkers in Ethnomethodology

1. Harold Garfinkel:
   • Contribution: Founder of ethnomethodology. Garfinkel’s work emphasized the ways in which social order is produced through everyday interactions. He introduced the concept of “indexicality,” which refers to how the meaning of actions and statements depends on their context.
   • Notable Works: Studies in Ethnomethodology (1967), which laid the foundation for this field.
2. Erving Goffman:
   • Contribution: Though not strictly an ethnomethodologist, Goffman’s work on the “presentation of self” and the dramaturgical model of social interaction closely aligns with ethnomethodological themes. His focus on the micro-level of social interaction influenced ethnomethodology.
   • Notable Works: The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (1956).
3. Harvey Sacks:
   • Contribution: A student of Garfinkel, Sacks is known for his development of conversation analysis, a method used to study the structure and patterns of talk in interaction. His work is essential to understanding the detailed practices of communication.
   • Notable Works: Lectures on Conversation.
4. Melvin Pollner:
   • Contribution: Pollner expanded ethnomethodological ideas into the study of “reality disjunctures,” exploring how different groups perceive reality differently.
   • Notable Works: Mundane Reason.

Practice Questions for UPSC

1. What is ethnomethodology? Discuss its significance in understanding everyday social interactions.
2. Explain the concept of ‘indexicality’ in ethnomethodology with examples.
3. Compare and contrast the contributions of Harold Garfinkel and Erving Goffman to the study of social interactions.
4. How does ethnomethodology differ from traditional sociological approaches?
5. Discuss the role of conversation analysis in ethnomethodology. How does it help in understanding the social construction of reality?
6. Analyze the relevance of ethnomethodology in contemporary sociological research. Provide examples.
7. Critically examine the limitations of ethnomethodology as a sociological approach.

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