ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to outline those parts of Garfinkel's thought most relevant to the study of decision making in everyday settings. Garfinkel put forward his conception of ‘common sense situations of choice’ in his two papers on ‘common sense knowledge of social structure’. In pursuing their everyday activities, Garfinkel argued, members’ knowledge differs greatly from the knowledge imputed to them in the construction of rational ideal types. Garfinkel's argument could be read as an attack on everyday decision making. Members, it seems, are either unaware that their decision making practices would be regarded as entirely unacceptable from the point of view of scientific methodologists or do not care that these practices are faulted. It seems that right down the line Garfinkel's arguments are susceptible to the application of an ironic contrast between the ideals of scientific methodology and the everyday sense-making practices of members.
