Message-Id: <199705121615.MAA32274@sable.cc.vt.edu>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Date: Mon, 12 May 1997 12:15:15 +0600
To: socgrad@csf.colorado.edu
From: Jeff Janosko <jjanosko@vt.edu>
Subject: Re: Ethnomethodology
        I think Alan's definition of ethnomethodology is essentially
correct, but too general.  Certainly, ethnomethodology is the study of
phenomena from the perspective of the participant.  That perspective,
however, is profoundly influenced by one's social location; so, "all that
ethnic stuff" is significant. 
        A discussion of phenomenology may help you to better understand
ethnomethodology.  Basically, phenomenology views reality in terms of
subjective experience. In this sense, there are multiple realities; reality
is constituted by one's view of it.  
        Ethnomethodology is related to phenomenology.  Ethnomethodologists,
however, are particularly interested in the ways that people produce
meaning.  In other words, individuals do not create their views of reality
in a vacuum; they utilize systems of meaning that they create through
interaction with others.  You should read _The Social Construction of
Reality_  by Berger and Luckmann for a detailed discussion of ethnomethodology. 
        Jeff 

At 07:56 PM 5/12/97 GMT, you wrote:
>          You mean it's got nothing to do with ethinicity, ethnography 
>          and all the ethnic stuff?
>
>
>______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
>Subject: Ethnomethodology
>Author:  socgrad@csf.colorado.edu at :external_mail
>Date:    5/12/97 10:25
>
>
>Ethnomethodology basically refers to understanding the meaning systems and 
>procedures people use in doing what they do.
>
>