Finding Fault

Abstract

To explore how social actors find fault with others' conduct, transcripts of 84 problematic events were analysed. The depiction of fault-finding methods that emerged differs from earlier research in stressing the extensiveness and negotiability of action in problematic events. A larger number of fault-finding methods, which pertain to present and future, in addition to past faults, are included within the domain of fault finding. The process of finding fault is characterised as an active, interpretive, negotiative process. Included in the process are formulations of events as problematic, accusations, explanation demands, stops, explanations of stops, and advisories. Excerpts of talk are provided to exemplify each of these methods, and the within-category variation and co-occurrence of methods are explored. Limitations of the study and several prospects for future work are mentioned.