DeMontigny2017

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DeMontigny2017
BibType ARTICLE
Key DeMontigny2017
Author(s) Gerald de Montigny
Title Ethnomethodological indifference: just a passing phase?
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Ethnomethodological indifference, Ethnomethodology, Institutional ethnography, Social work
Publisher
Year 2017
Language English
City
Month
Journal Human Studies
Volume 40
Number 3
Pages 331–364
URL Link
DOI 10.1007/s10746-016-9405-5
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

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Abstract

This paper examines whether social workers and other direct service practitioners can find utility in ethnomethodology despite or even because of the policy of “indifference”. Garfinkel, the father of ethnomethodology (EM), sets out “ethnomethodological indifference” (EM-I) to insist that EM studies do not supplement, formulate remedies, develop humanistic arguments, or encourage discussions of theory. While at first blush such limits on EM might appear to be a barrier for most social workers this paper argues against first impressions. It is argued that EM provides an important redirection for social work practice and research. Additionally, it is proposed that by approaching EM through Dorothy Smith's Institutional Ethnography social workers can bridge Garfinkel's quest for haeccities (“just thisness; just here, just now”) with extended social relations and actual courses of actions to find congruence between EM and accomplished professional practice.

Notes