Montigny2020

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Montigny2020
BibType ARTICLE
Key Montigny2020
Author(s) Gerald de Montigny
Title Engaging ethnomethodology for social work
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Social work, knowledge, methodology, qualitative research, reflective practice, reflexive practice
Publisher
Year 2020
Language English
City
Month
Journal Journal of Social Work
Volume 20
Number 2
Pages 131–151
URL Link
DOI 10.1177/1468017318795925
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

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Abstract

Summary How does one go about doing or engaging in ethnomethodological study of local occasions? Would such study be of value for social workers, hence would it help them to understand the everyday accomplishment of practice as social work? Harold Garfinkel, the founder of ethnomethodology, argued that the task is to start with and to be in the midst of ordinary and everyday activities. A beginning in ordinary, mundane, and everyday activities is also to be surrounded by taken-for-granted understandings, frameworks, and facts or facticities. The focus on “facticities” of everyday things directs us to attend to utterly ordinary and mundane interactions, and here there is deep congruence with social work interests and practices.

Findings This paper turns to Garfinkel’s oeuvre to set out in readily understandable language the orientation and tools needed for social workers to do ethnomethodological studies. A focal question is: Just how might social workers in the midst of practice actually go about engaging in EM?

Application By taking up tools from ethnomethodology, social workers can better understand and explicate the essential reflexivity of their everyday practice. As a result, EM provides a pathway for both understanding and teaching effective social work through a reflective and reflexive turn.

Notes