Symbolic Interactionism and Library Research: Using a Qualitative Methodology to Understand Library Interchange

Symbolic Interactionism is a theory for analyzing research based on a qualitative interpretive process that can help librarians to understand the way in which the library staff and users view services, training, policy, and other issues. The theory focuses on the symbolic meaning of objects and events as they are interpreted through human interaction. An explanation of the theory is followed by examples of how symbolic interactionism can be of value to librarians in their research to understand individual and group behavior.