ECLI a03_t14_2

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Ethnomethodology is based on the belief that human interaction takes place within a 
consensus and interaction is not possible without this consensus. The consensus is part 
of what holds society together and is made up of the norms for behavior that people 
carry around with them. It is assumed that people in a society share the same norms 
and expectations for behavior and so by breaking these norms, we can study more 
about that society and how they react to broken normal social behavior. 
Ethnomethodologists argue that you cannot simply ask a person what norms he or she 
uses because most people are not able to articulate or describe them. People are 
generally not wholly conscious of what norms they use and so ethnomethodology is 
designed to uncover these norms and behaviors. 
 
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the action approach? 
Strengths 
- Humans are seen as active and thinking beings 
- The concept of ‘structure’ is how individuals experience a 
ready-made reality – it does not exist as a ‘thing’ that 
controls the individual 
- Individuals think about self-identity and have some control 
over it 
- Culture is seen the outcome of shared meanings 
- Humans are seen as ‘social beings’, but ones that remains as 
individuals within the wider group. 
Weaknesses 
- Humans are seen as having total free will in some versions of 
action sociology, yet one cannot truly do as one wishes in 
society without experiencing external control 
- Action sociology ignores the role that power and inequality 
play in shaping the outcome of interaction 
- It is often not clear in action sociology whether, in 
establishing our self-identity, we are passive victims of 
others, or able to reject others’ definitions of us.