Ethnomethodology is a sociological approach that focuses on the ways in which people make sense of their social world through everyday practices and interactions. Developed by Harold Garfinkel in the 1960s, ethnomethodology seeks to uncover the underlying methods or “ethnomethods” that individuals use to produce and maintain social order in their daily lives.

Key aspects of ethnomethodology include:

1. Indexicality: Ethnomethodologists emphasize the indexical nature of social interaction, meaning that the meanings of social actions are context-dependent and can vary based on the specific situation and participants involved. Rather than assuming shared meanings or norms, ethnomethodologists examine how individuals actively construct and negotiate meaning in interaction.
2. Common-Sense Knowledge: Ethnomethodology challenges the idea of a shared, taken-for-granted understanding of social reality. Instead, it focuses on the “common-sense knowledge” that individuals use to navigate their social world. Ethnomethodologists are interested in how people generate and interpret this knowledge in the course of everyday interactions.
3. Breaching Experiments: Ethnomethodologists use breaching experiments or “breaches” to disrupt ordinary social interactions and uncover the taken-for-granted assumptions and practices that underlie them. By intentionally violating social norms or expectations, researchers can reveal the methods people use to make sense of and respond to unexpected or unfamiliar situations.
4. Ethnomethodological Studies: Ethnomethodologists conduct detailed studies of various social settings, such as workplaces, families, and public spaces, to examine the methods people use to produce and maintain social order. They analyze the rules, conventions, and tacit understandings that govern interaction within these settings, paying attention to the strategies individuals employ to manage uncertainty and achieve coordination.
5. Reflexivity: Ethnomethodology encourages reflexivity, or critical self-awareness, among researchers and participants alike. Researchers reflect on their own assumptions and practices, recognizing that their interpretations of social reality are also subject to negotiation and contestation. Ethnomethodological studies often involve collaboration with participants to co-construct knowledge about social life.
6. Applications: Ethnomethodology has influenced various fields, including sociology, anthropology, communication studies, and psychology. It provides insights into the micro-level processes of social interaction and the ways in which people create and sustain order in their daily lives. Ethnomethodological perspectives have been applied to diverse topics, such as conversation analysis, the study of work and organizations, and the analysis of technology-mediated communication.

Overall, ethnomethodology offers a unique perspective on social life, focusing on the methods people use to produce and make sense of their social world in everyday interactions. It challenges traditional sociological assumptions about social order and provides a rich framework for understanding the complexity and contingency of human behavior.