Asking Chatgpt to clarify the approach of ethnomethodology: a note for Housing Studies students

Asking Chatgpt to clarify the approach of ethnomethodology: a note for Housing Studies students.

The following is an account of my dialogue with the assistant bot (a version of chatgpt accessed via poe.com).

Introduction: I am a Housing Studies student, currently working on the formulation of my final-year dissertation proposal. My research topic is on the Generation Y's viewpoints of homeownership in Hong Kong. 

Finding 1

My first question: "Recently, I have come across the approach of ethnomethodology and would like to know the underlying ideas of ethnomethodology. Could you clarify me on this approach? Thanks a lot."

The reply from the assistant bot: "Certainly, I'd be happy to provide an overview of the key ideas behind ethnomethodology.

Ethnomethodology is a sociological approach that focuses on the everyday practices and commonsense reasoning that people use to make sense of their social world. The central idea is that social order is not something that exists independently, but is actively created and maintained through the mundane, taken-for-granted activities and interactions of people in their daily lives.

The key principles of ethnomethodology include:

Indexicality: Ethnomethodologists argue that the meaning of language and social actions is always context-dependent and indexical, meaning that it derives its significance from the specific circumstances in which it is used.

Reflexivity: Social actions are seen as reflexive, in the sense that people's understanding of the situation shapes their behavior, which in turn shapes the situation itself. There is a constant interplay between how people interpret a situation and how they act within it.

Accountability: Ethnomethodologists focus on how people make their actions and reasoning accountable to others, that is, how they demonstrate the rationality and appropriateness of their behavior within a given social context.

Breaching experiments: Ethnomethodologists often use "breaching experiments" to reveal the taken-for-granted assumptions and expectations that underlie social order. These involve intentionally violating or disrupting normal social routines to see how people respond.

In the context of your research on Generation Y's viewpoints of homeownership in Hong Kong, an ethnomethodological approach might involve observing and interviewing young people as they navigate the process of finding, purchasing, and maintaining a home. The focus would be on understanding the practical, everyday strategies and sense-making practices they employ, rather than testing pre-defined hypotheses.

Some key areas you might explore could include:

How young people make sense of and account for their housing choices and preferences

The role of social networks, cultural norms, and institutional structures in shaping their homeownership experiences

The strategies they use to overcome practical and financial barriers to homeownership

The ways in which their understanding of "home" and "homeownership" is constructed through their daily interactions and routines

I hope this overview of ethnomethodology is helpful for your dissertation research. Let me know if you have any other questions!"

Finding 2

My second question is: "Very useful information. If I intend to use interview research and observational research in my ethnomethodological approach, could you do me a favor to come up with a research plan for that?"

The reply from the assistant bot: "Certainly, here's a research plan that could work well for an ethnomethodological study on Generation Y's viewpoints of homeownership in Hong Kong:

Research Objectives:

Understand the practical, everyday strategies and sense-making practices young people in Hong Kong employ in their pursuit of homeownership.

Explore how cultural norms, social networks, and institutional structures shape their experiences and perceptions of homeownership.

Investigate the ways in which young people's conceptualizations of "home" and "homeownership" are constructed through their daily interactions and routines.

Methodology:

Participant Observation:

Identify and gain access to relevant settings where young people engage with housing-related activities (e.g., real estate agent offices, community centers, online forums).

Conduct observations of their interactions, conversations, and decision-making processes related to homeownership.

Take detailed field notes to capture the context-specific, indexical nature of their behaviors and reasoning.

Pay attention to how participants make their actions and decisions accountable to others.

In-depth Interviews:

Recruit a diverse sample of young people (aged 20-35) from different socioeconomic backgrounds in Hong Kong.

Conduct semi-structured interviews to explore their personal experiences, perceptions, and decision-making processes regarding homeownership.

Use open-ended questions to encourage participants to describe their practical strategies and sense-making practices in their own words.

Probe for specific examples and narratives to understand the reflexive nature of their actions and interpretations.

Ask participants to reflect on how cultural norms, social networks, and institutional factors influence their housing-related choices and behaviors.

Breaching Experiments (Optional):

Develop a set of "breaching" scenarios that intentionally disrupt the normal expectations and routines associated with homeownership.

For example, you could ask participants to consider hypothetical situations where they are unable to afford the housing market, or where their housing preferences clash with social norms.

Observe and analyze how participants respond to these breaching scenarios, and how they make sense of and account for the disruptions to their taken-for-granted assumptions.

Data Analysis:

Transcribe and carefully analyze the interview data, focusing on the indexical, reflexive, and accountable nature of participants' descriptions and explanations.

Identify recurring patterns, common strategies, and shared understandings within the observational and interview data.

Interpret the findings through the theoretical lens of ethnomethodology, emphasizing the ways in which young people actively construct and maintain their sense of homeownership in their daily lives.

I hope this research plan provides a solid foundation for your ethnomethodological study. Let me know if you have any other questions!"

Finding 3

My third question is "What specific ethical considerations should I keep in mind during this research?"

The reply from the assistant bot: "When conducting an ethnomethodological study on Generation Y's viewpoints of homeownership in Hong Kong, there are several important ethical considerations to keep in mind:

Informed Consent:

Ensure that all participants fully understand the purpose of the study and provide their voluntary, informed consent to participate.

Be transparent about the methods, such as the use of observation and potential breaching experiments, and obtain explicit consent for these activities.

Provide participants with clear information about how their data will be collected, used, and protected.

Confidentiality and Privacy:

Protect the privacy and confidentiality of participants by anonymizing their personal information and using pseudonyms in any written outputs.

Be cautious when collecting and storing sensitive data, such as financial information or personal experiences, and ensure secure data storage and handling procedures.

Avoid collecting or using any identifying information that could compromise the participants' privacy.

Minimizing Harm and Disruption:

Be mindful of the potential emotional or psychological impact that the research activities may have on participants, especially when exploring sensitive topics related to housing and finances.

Design the breaching experiments, if used, in a way that minimizes any unnecessary disruption or distress to the participants.

Provide appropriate support or referrals if participants become distressed during the research process.

Reciprocity and Beneficence:

Consider ways to provide tangible benefits to the participants, such as sharing relevant housing information or resources, as a way of acknowledging their contribution to the study.

Explore opportunities to collaborate with local organizations or community groups to ensure the research is relevant and beneficial to the target population.

Disseminate the research findings in a way that empowers and positively impacts the lives of young people in Hong Kong.

Researcher Reflexivity:

Continuously reflect on your own positionality, biases, and assumptions as a researcher, and how these may influence the research process and interpretation of the findings.

Be transparent about your own background and experiences, and how they may shape your interactions with participants and the overall research approach.

Engage in ongoing discussions with your academic supervisors or a research ethics committee to ensure the ethical integrity of the study.

By carefully considering these ethical principles throughout the research process, you can help ensure that your ethnomethodological study is conducted in a responsible and sensitive manner, while also maximizing the potential benefits for the participants and the broader community."

Some overall evaluation comments

The assistant bot offered very useful explanation and examples in response to my queries. Very impressive.

Reference: a collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.