title: Revisiting Symbolic Interactionism as a Theoretical Framework Beyond the Grounded Theory Tradition.
abstract: The tight bond between grounded theory (GT) and symbolic interactionism (SI) is well known within the qualitative health research field. We aimed to disentangle this connection through critical reflection on the conditions under which it might add value as an underpinning to studies outside the GT tradition. Drawing on an examination of the central tenets of SI, we illustrate with a field study using interpretive description as methodology how SI can be applied as a theoretical lens through which layers of socially constructed meaning can help surface the subjective world of patients. We demonstrate how SI can function as a powerful framework for human health behavior research through its capacity to orient questions, inform design options, and refine analytic directions. We conclude that using SI as a lens can serve as a translation mechanism in our quest to interpret the subjective world underlying patients' health and illness behavior.
authors.affiliation: Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark charlotte.handberg@stab.rm.dk.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Handberg
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thorne
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Midtgaard
authors.affiliation: Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Claus Vinther
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lomborg
mesh_terms: D066296:Grounded Theory; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008960:Models, Psychological; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012107:Research Design
keywords: interpretive description; research design; research, qualitative; symbolic interactionism, qualitative analysis