Final answer:
Symbolic Interactionism is a sociological perspective where meaning is created through social interactions using symbols. George Herbert Mead laid its foundations, and its researchers typically use participant observation to study interactions and interpretations within a society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Symbolic Interactionism is a sociological framework that focuses on the micro-level of social interaction. It suggests that people interpret and give meaning to objects, events, and behaviors in a social context, using symbols such as language, gestures, and artifacts. According to the theory developed by George Herbert Mead and furthered by Herbert Blumer, symbolic interactionists are likely to employ participant observation as a research technique. This is because participant observation allows the researchers to immerse themselves in the social environment and understand how individuals interact and communicate meanings through symbols.
Key premises of Symbolic Interaction Theory include the understanding that humans interact with things based on the meanings ascribed to those things, that the ascribed meanings are derived from social interactions, and that these meanings are interpreted personally in varying circumstances.