Symbolic Interactionism as an Interpretive Lens and Its Contributions to Qualitative Research: An Interdisciplinary Approach

This chapter presents the main concepts of Symbolic Interactionism (SI) as a theoretical-methodological framework and interpretive lens, highlights its main contributions to qualitative research, and discusses the interdisciplinary perspective of this theory. Symbolic Interactionism is a comprehensive sociological approach that studies human relationships in groups and their several behaviors, contextualizing them according to individual and collective experiences. Its central concept is meaning since it defends the argument that actions are established and redefined through people’s interactions. SI allows us to explore the individual subjective interpretations of social situations and how these interpretations influence their actions and interactions with others. Symbolic Interactionism’s contributions to qualitative research are diverse, as it provides a richer and deeper understanding of social events, emphasizing the target audience’s meanings and experiences. This interpretive line transcends disciplinary boundaries and bridges different areas of knowledge, such as Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Communication, and other social sciences. As a result, it offers a theoretical framework that can be applied to a wide range of contexts and research topics.