Studies in Ethnomethodology (Social and Political Theory) [Paperback]

Harold Garfinkel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 16, 1991 | ISBN-10: 0745600050 | ISBN-13: 978-0745600055

This is the first appearance in paper back of one of the major classics of contemporary Sociology. Studies in Ethnomethodology has inspired a wide range of important theoretical and empirical work in the social sciences and linguistics. It is one of the most original and controversial works in modern social science and it remains at the centre of debate about the current trends and tasks of sociology and social theory.

Ethnomethodology - the study of the ways in which ordinary people construct a stable social world through everyday utterances and actions - is now a major component of all sociology and linguistics courses. Garfinkel's formidable reputation as one of the worlds leading sociologists rest largely on the work contained in this book.

Studies in Ethnomethodology was originally published by Prentice Hall in 1967 and has remained in print ever since. It is widely used as a text book in this country and in the United States. This new paperback is a special student edition of Garfinkel's modern classic.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Garfinkel's arguments are expressed with a power and richness that is singular and imperishable... The renewed availability of these classic studies will give rise to the widest understanding of Garfinkel's seminal arguments.' Times Higher Education Supplement

From the Back Cover

This is the first appearance in paper back of one of the major classics of contemporary Sociology. Studies in Ethnomethodology has inspired a wide range of important theoretical and empirical work in the social sciences and linguistics. It is one of the most original and controversial works in modern social science and it remains at the centre of debate about the current trends and tasks of sociology and social theory.

Ethnomethodology - the study of the ways in which ordinary people construct a stable social world through everyday utterances and actions - is now a major component of all sociology and linguistics courses. Garfinkel's formidable reputation as one of the worlds leading sociologists rest largely on the work contained in this book.

Studies in Ethnomethodology was originally published by Prentice Hall in 1967 and has remained in print ever since. It is widely used as a text book in this country and in the United States. This new paperback is a special student edition of Garfinkel's modern classic.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Polity (January 16, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0745600050
• ISBN-13: 978-0745600055
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,569 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Little Classic, July 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Studies in Ethnomethodology (Social and Political Theory) (Paperback)

I first encountered Garfinkle's classic work almost 30 years ago in an introductory sociology of deviance course. We students loved it, because it was at once substantive and quirky, scholarly and entertaining.

Its focus is the social construction of reality -- a central contruct in sociological theory and research. Briefly, Garfinkle argues that the shared reality that makes possible social intercourse is not fixed, but rather arises as a consenus of participants in social groups. So, for example, manners, rules of conversation, or even definitions of insanity can be shown to be arbitrary and mutable while at the same time indespensible for comprehensible interactions between and among people.

This little book is a must read for any student of social or organizational behavior or anyone curious about the social world. Rarely will you meet a practicing sociologist who does not get a twinkle in his or her eye when someone mentions Studies in Ethnomethodology. It is that good. And that much fun.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No joke, April 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Studies in Ethnomethodology (Social and Political Theory) (Paperback)

This is Garfinkel's only book (setting aside a compilation he published of some of his students' work). The book and the ethnomethodological take on social life can be hard to grasp, especially for those trained in mainline sociology. A word of advice: If you are accustomed to skipping prefaces, don't skip Garfinkel's. In wild prose that pays dividends when read aloud, the preface sets up the whole book and ties Garfinkel's project to classical sociology.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Indeed, September 30, 2005

By 

Bill Sanders "williebegoode" (Bloomfield, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Studies in Ethnomethodology (Social and Political Theory) (Paperback)

This book isn't for everyone, and most of the people who read it, generally don't get it. That's the nature of the beast. Essentially, Garfinkel has re-asked the Durkhiemian question -- How is Social Order Possible? His query is, How is the Sense of Social Order Possible?

So the methodology is not a research method, but rather it's the members methods for constructing reality. So the sense of social reality is constructed using documentary methods. This book shows how that's accomplished.