# Harold Garfinkel

> American sociologist (1917-2011)

**Wikidata**: [Q461121](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q461121)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Garfinkel)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/harold-garfinkel

## Summary
Harold Garfinkel was an American sociologist (1917–2011) known for his foundational contributions to ethnomethodology, a branch of sociology that studies how people construct social reality through everyday interactions. His work laid the groundwork for understanding how individuals produce and maintain social order through practical reasoning and shared understandings.

## Biography
- Born: 1917
- Nationality: American
- Education: PhD in Sociology (University of Chicago)
- Known for: Pioneering ethnomethodology and the study of social interaction
- Employer(s): University of Chicago (faculty member)
- Field(s): Sociology, Ethnomethodology

## Contributions
- Developed ethnomethodology, a framework analyzing how individuals use practical reasoning to construct social reality in everyday interactions.
- Published seminal works including *Studies in Ethnomethodology* (1967), which introduced key concepts like "breaching experiments" and "ethnomethodological reflexivity."
- Influenced later sociological theories on social order, conversation analysis, and the philosophy of social science.

## FAQs
- **What was Harold Garfinkel's primary field of study?**
  Harold Garfinkel specialized in sociology, particularly in the development of ethnomethodology, which examines how people create and maintain social reality through everyday interactions.

- **Where did Harold Garfinkel conduct his academic work?**
  He was a faculty member at the University of Chicago, where he made significant contributions to sociological theory.

- **What is ethnomethodology, and how did Harold Garfinkel contribute to it?**
  Ethnomethodology is a sociological approach that studies how individuals use practical reasoning to construct social order. Harold Garfinkel developed this framework, introducing concepts like "breaching experiments" and "ethnomethodological reflexivity" in his influential works.

## Why They Matter
Harold Garfinkel's work revolutionized sociology by providing a rigorous method for analyzing social interaction. His ethnomethodological approach challenged traditional sociological theories by emphasizing the practical, everyday methods people use to create and sustain social reality. His ideas have influenced fields such as conversation analysis, organizational studies, and the philosophy of social science, shaping how researchers understand human behavior and social order.

## Notable For
- Pioneered ethnomethodology, a key framework in sociology.
- Authored *Studies in Ethnomethodology* (1967), a foundational text in the field.
- Influenced later sociological theories on social order and interaction.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Harold Garfinkel was born in 1917. He earned his PhD in Sociology from the University of Chicago, where he later became a faculty member.

### Career and Academic Work
Garfinkel spent his academic career at the University of Chicago, where he made groundbreaking contributions to sociology. His work focused on understanding how individuals construct social reality through practical reasoning.

### Key Contributions
Garfinkel developed ethnomethodology, a framework that analyzes how people use everyday interactions to create and maintain social order. His seminal work, *Studies in Ethnomethodology* (1967), introduced concepts such as "breaching experiments" and "ethnomethodological reflexivity," which became central to sociological theory.

### Influence and Legacy
Garfinkel's ideas have had a profound impact on sociology, particularly in the study of social interaction and social order. His work has influenced fields such as conversation analysis, organizational studies, and the philosophy of social science. His emphasis on practical reasoning and shared understandings continues to shape how researchers analyze human behavior and social phenomena.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. Integrated Authority File
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. CiNii Research
6. [Source](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/04/us/04garfinkel.html?ref=obituaries)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. CONOR.SI
9. Quora
10. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
11. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands