Ethnomethodology / Norm Violations

Ethnomethodological Experiment

Act as a sociologist and conduct an ethnomethodological experiment.

Ethnomethodology is the study of how people make sense of what others say or do in the course of day-to-day interaction.

One way ethnomethodologists study norms is to violate them.

When disrupted, the norms of a particular situation become evident when those involved attempt to restore normalcy and/or have adverse reactions.

Your assignment is to conduct an ethnomethodological experiment by violating the norms of a situation and taking note of the reactions of those involved.

Once you’ve completed the experiment, you or your group should write a minimum of one full page, double-spaced, type-written essay, describing:

1. The experiment you conducted;