Rob Smith
@robinjsmith.bsky.social
Sociologist at Cardiff University and Visiting Professor at The University of the Witwatersrand. Ethnography, Ethnomethodology, and MCA, of all sorts of settings including policing, mountain rescue work, and public space.
We need a Strava-like app for marking season motivation.
Kudos! You’ve marked five essays!
Elapsed time: 90mins
Grade Adjusted Pace: 3 hours
Calories burned/consumed: +300
Recovery time: 1hr
Kudos! You’ve marked five essays!
Elapsed time: 90mins
Grade Adjusted Pace: 3 hours
Calories burned/consumed: +300
Recovery time: 1hr
January 13, 2026 at 11:40 AM
We need a Strava-like app for marking season motivation.
Kudos! You’ve marked five essays!
Elapsed time: 90mins
Grade Adjusted Pace: 3 hours
Calories burned/consumed: +300
Recovery time: 1hr
Kudos! You’ve marked five essays!
Elapsed time: 90mins
Grade Adjusted Pace: 3 hours
Calories burned/consumed: +300
Recovery time: 1hr
Reposted by Rob Smith
Three short paragraphs, and you've got the whole mind-bending mess that is #UKHE finance & governance neatly laid out.
This is why it's all so exhausting: our managers declare there's only one static frame, while we know their framing is part of the issue.
💡 www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/01/10/w...
This is why it's all so exhausting: our managers declare there's only one static frame, while we know their framing is part of the issue.
💡 www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/01/10/w...
January 10, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Three short paragraphs, and you've got the whole mind-bending mess that is #UKHE finance & governance neatly laid out.
This is why it's all so exhausting: our managers declare there's only one static frame, while we know their framing is part of the issue.
💡 www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/01/10/w...
This is why it's all so exhausting: our managers declare there's only one static frame, while we know their framing is part of the issue.
💡 www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/01/10/w...
Website and call for papers for the 2026 EUSSSI conference launched.
As reflected in the Symbolic Interaction journal and CfP, welcoming of work in EM/CA related to conference theme.
#symbolicinteraction
#groundedtheory
#emca
www.sv.uio.no/iss/english/...
As reflected in the Symbolic Interaction journal and CfP, welcoming of work in EM/CA related to conference theme.
#symbolicinteraction
#groundedtheory
#emca
www.sv.uio.no/iss/english/...
European Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction Oslo 2026
- Department of Sociology and Human Geography
The annual conference of the European Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction will take place from June 16th - June 19th in beautiful Oslo, Norway. This is the main European conference designed ...
www.sv.uio.no
January 7, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Website and call for papers for the 2026 EUSSSI conference launched.
As reflected in the Symbolic Interaction journal and CfP, welcoming of work in EM/CA related to conference theme.
#symbolicinteraction
#groundedtheory
#emca
www.sv.uio.no/iss/english/...
As reflected in the Symbolic Interaction journal and CfP, welcoming of work in EM/CA related to conference theme.
#symbolicinteraction
#groundedtheory
#emca
www.sv.uio.no/iss/english/...
Looks great, Liz! Happy New Year!
December 31, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Looks great, Liz! Happy New Year!
On another level it’s about “seeing ethnographically” as well as some of the trained difficulties with doing “mere description”. There’s a dash of EM and Wittgenstein running through it.
Let me know if you’d like a copy.
Let me know if you’d like a copy.
December 20, 2025 at 10:12 AM
On another level it’s about “seeing ethnographically” as well as some of the trained difficulties with doing “mere description”. There’s a dash of EM and Wittgenstein running through it.
Let me know if you’d like a copy.
Let me know if you’d like a copy.
Just published. My chapter is based on resolving the three complaints of the novice fieldworker.
“I didn’t know what to write because”:
1) no one was doing anything!
2) people were doing too much!
3) I didn’t know what to call the thing I was seeing!
tinyurl.com/5n7w84hk
#ethnography #emca
“I didn’t know what to write because”:
1) no one was doing anything!
2) people were doing too much!
3) I didn’t know what to call the thing I was seeing!
tinyurl.com/5n7w84hk
#ethnography #emca
Teaching Research Methods in Sociology
Providing both theoretical and practical strategies for developing engaging and innovative approaches to teaching, expert instructors share their insights into teaching about important topics in the s...
tinyurl.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Just published. My chapter is based on resolving the three complaints of the novice fieldworker.
“I didn’t know what to write because”:
1) no one was doing anything!
2) people were doing too much!
3) I didn’t know what to call the thing I was seeing!
tinyurl.com/5n7w84hk
#ethnography #emca
“I didn’t know what to write because”:
1) no one was doing anything!
2) people were doing too much!
3) I didn’t know what to call the thing I was seeing!
tinyurl.com/5n7w84hk
#ethnography #emca
Oof. Don’t we know it. It’s the hope that kills you…
December 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Oof. Don’t we know it. It’s the hope that kills you…
I used the United classic “give it to Giggsy till end of season” in this context just yesterday…
December 18, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I used the United classic “give it to Giggsy till end of season” in this context just yesterday…
Reposted by Rob Smith
Delighted to receive this in the post - 'Bigfooters and Scientific Inquiry' by @drjamielewis.bsky.social and Andy Bartlett. This book is in the finest STS tradition of showing how an apparently marginal or obscure scientific practice opens up an entire epistemological world.
December 15, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Delighted to receive this in the post - 'Bigfooters and Scientific Inquiry' by @drjamielewis.bsky.social and Andy Bartlett. This book is in the finest STS tradition of showing how an apparently marginal or obscure scientific practice opens up an entire epistemological world.
Reposted by Rob Smith
There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom
December 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom
It’s tough out there.
December 12, 2025 at 9:59 AM
It’s tough out there.
The future is already populated.
December 12, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The future is already populated.
Reposted by Rob Smith
Symbolic Interaction, Vol.48 No4 is out - it's a special issue on "The (Re)Production and Navigation of Social Asymmetries‐in‐Action" co-edited by Catherine L. Tam @cathtam.bsky.social & Robin James Smith @robinjsmith.bsky.social congratulations, both co-editors and authors #sssi #emca #interaction
December 11, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Symbolic Interaction, Vol.48 No4 is out - it's a special issue on "The (Re)Production and Navigation of Social Asymmetries‐in‐Action" co-edited by Catherine L. Tam @cathtam.bsky.social & Robin James Smith @robinjsmith.bsky.social congratulations, both co-editors and authors #sssi #emca #interaction
The future is not determined but is factual. It is already under way…
The foundation of a future oriented relation of ethics, action, and knowledge.
The foundation of a future oriented relation of ethics, action, and knowledge.
December 11, 2025 at 4:44 PM
The future is not determined but is factual. It is already under way…
The foundation of a future oriented relation of ethics, action, and knowledge.
The foundation of a future oriented relation of ethics, action, and knowledge.
“Every single moment is implicated in all of time”
A real treat, as usual, to welcome Barbara Adam back to Cardiff. Essential ideas for thinking open futures.
A real treat, as usual, to welcome Barbara Adam back to Cardiff. Essential ideas for thinking open futures.
December 11, 2025 at 4:14 PM
“Every single moment is implicated in all of time”
A real treat, as usual, to welcome Barbara Adam back to Cardiff. Essential ideas for thinking open futures.
A real treat, as usual, to welcome Barbara Adam back to Cardiff. Essential ideas for thinking open futures.
As a result of working through my degree and some of my postgraduate, I can size a suit for someone by eye, measure and pin for tailoring, and know how to measure for a kilt.
Should have written about it. The ethnography would’ve been called
Measurement and Method…
Should have written about it. The ethnography would’ve been called
Measurement and Method…
What skill did you master that you will never, ever use again?
Summer of '95 I had a job assembling single-use film cameras, which I did enough that I can still perform the actions. I don't think they even sell them anymore, but even if they do I'm certainly never going to be making them again!
Summer of '95 I had a job assembling single-use film cameras, which I did enough that I can still perform the actions. I don't think they even sell them anymore, but even if they do I'm certainly never going to be making them again!
What skill did you master that you will never, ever use again?
In the summer of ‘88, I had a job where I installed cell phones into cars. No one has needed that skill in over 30 years.
In the summer of ‘88, I had a job where I installed cell phones into cars. No one has needed that skill in over 30 years.
December 8, 2025 at 1:45 PM
As a result of working through my degree and some of my postgraduate, I can size a suit for someone by eye, measure and pin for tailoring, and know how to measure for a kilt.
Should have written about it. The ethnography would’ve been called
Measurement and Method…
Should have written about it. The ethnography would’ve been called
Measurement and Method…
Among our growing list of “other duties” in our job spec, it seems we’re now supposed to be part of the marketing department.
We understand the shifting recruitment landscape, but it’s yet another problem we’re expected to solve by ourselves.
Not to mention the risks that come with the exposure.
We understand the shifting recruitment landscape, but it’s yet another problem we’re expected to solve by ourselves.
Not to mention the risks that come with the exposure.
My university wants professors to create IG accounts to promote our classes and, yeah, I'm not going to do that.
December 7, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Among our growing list of “other duties” in our job spec, it seems we’re now supposed to be part of the marketing department.
We understand the shifting recruitment landscape, but it’s yet another problem we’re expected to solve by ourselves.
Not to mention the risks that come with the exposure.
We understand the shifting recruitment landscape, but it’s yet another problem we’re expected to solve by ourselves.
Not to mention the risks that come with the exposure.
Congratulations, Antti! Great news!
December 6, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Congratulations, Antti! Great news!
Reposted by Rob Smith
2.5 million people with HIV have lost access to life-saving treatment as a result of Trump’s cuts to the global HIV programme.
It’s estimated that this has already resulted in an additional 100,000 AIDS deaths this year.
It’s estimated that this has already resulted in an additional 100,000 AIDS deaths this year.
"This is truly one of the great honors of my life ... we've saved millions and millions of lives" -- Trump
December 5, 2025 at 5:47 PM
2.5 million people with HIV have lost access to life-saving treatment as a result of Trump’s cuts to the global HIV programme.
It’s estimated that this has already resulted in an additional 100,000 AIDS deaths this year.
It’s estimated that this has already resulted in an additional 100,000 AIDS deaths this year.
Reposted by Rob Smith
Awesome talk from Dr Patricia Jimenez at the EMCA Doctoral Network. Patricia did an amazing job at penetrating the question of why we do membership categorisation analysis and how it can help us understand members' situated sense-making practices.
Great data on classrooms and lay definitions of AI
Great data on classrooms and lay definitions of AI
December 5, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Awesome talk from Dr Patricia Jimenez at the EMCA Doctoral Network. Patricia did an amazing job at penetrating the question of why we do membership categorisation analysis and how it can help us understand members' situated sense-making practices.
Great data on classrooms and lay definitions of AI
Great data on classrooms and lay definitions of AI
It’s probably not what you had in mind at all, but McHoul’s PhD/book Telling How Texts Talk is worth a look.
December 3, 2025 at 8:22 AM
It’s probably not what you had in mind at all, but McHoul’s PhD/book Telling How Texts Talk is worth a look.
We’re going to get 20 people to do a commentary at the same time
December 3, 2025 at 7:20 AM
We’re going to get 20 people to do a commentary at the same time
I meant publications from that exact project. They’re very good!
December 2, 2025 at 7:45 PM
I meant publications from that exact project. They’re very good!
There have been some nice papers from this!
December 2, 2025 at 7:31 PM
There have been some nice papers from this!