Ethnomethodology is a sociological approach that focuses on the study of the ways people make sense of their daily experiences and interactions. Synonyms for this term include "studies of everyday life", "microsociology", "interpretive sociology", and "cultural sociology". These terms all refer to the examination of the small-scale interactions and practices that make up social life, and the ways in which people use shared understandings and cultural norms to navigate these interactions. Ethnomethodology also plays a role in the study of language, as it focuses on the ways in which people use language to construct and convey meaning in everyday situations.