Dorothy Smith’s ambitious work has formulated an alternative way of thinking about social life and how to research it, an approach that challenges the conventions and working practices of the established social sciences. Her work has been very influential and remains at the cutting edge, with new developments continuing to emerge. In this entry, a brief background of her biographical information is presented. This is followed by various sections highlighting Smith’s key conceptual ideas. Some issues regarding her research are then explored, and the entry concludes with a look at how Smith’s work has and will continue to have a lasting impact on many academic disciplines.