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Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 18:42:16 -0400 (EDT)
From: thomas conroy <conroyt@bu.edu>
Subject: Re: Ethnomethodology
To: socgrad@csf.colorado.edu
cc: Sociology Graduate Students -- International <socgrad@csf.colorado.edu>
In-Reply-To: <97May13.180728edt.265-5@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu>
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On Tue, 13 May 1997, Thomas F Brown wrote:

> Of what use is ethnomethodology? 

It's useful for deep sociological analysis which avoids neo-positivist 
assumptions.

> How can it help me understand the world? 

By showing how practical action is socially organized. 

> How can it help me change the world? 

Change it into what? To what ends? For whose use?

> It strikes me so far as trivial in these respects, although perhaps more
> information would change my view.

That may be because it is so often misunderstood. Anyway, what is 
motivating your questions? I'd like to know more about how you'd want to 
use it.