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.