Fieldwork, participation, and unique-adequacy-in-action

This article is concerned with the ethnomethodological principle of unique adequacy. The adequacy requirement methods requires that researcher gains ‘vulgar competency’ in practice(s) being studied, and, strong version, produces findings are for members. In engaging some existing critiques requirement, I draw from an ongoing participant study work mountain rescue aim considering matters participation, observation, analysis and competency at worksite itself. By attending to lived detail field/worksite, make a recommendation attention what am calling unique-adequacy-in-action. Here, then, describe how my own participation scene (a technical training session) demonstrates hybrid status as member/observer/analyst observable resource members’ assessments competency. doing so, recover radicality Garfinkel’s later writings resist treatment narrow methodological stipulation.