Introduction: Although it is generally acknowledged that symbolic interactionism and grounded
theory are connected, the precise nature of their connection remains implicit and unexplained in
reviewed articles. Awareness of the nature of their connection can help qualitative researchers
as guidance for data collection and analysis. This study was accomplished with the aim of
exploration of the connection between grounded theory and symbolic interactionism.

Method: The search of related articles and resources was done in databases such as Scopus,
Elsevier, Google Scholar, and ProQuest and with keywords including grounded theory, symbolic
interactionism, and methodology. Then the selected articles were reviewed.

Results: In this study, researchers, by reviewing of related articles, have propounded the
connection between methodological principles and processes of Blumer in the symbolic
interactionism with grounded theory. Then, they have argued about the explanatory power of
symbolic interactionism as a philosophical basis in a grounded theory study in the explanation of
student-teacher relationship in clinical nursing education.

Conclusion: When the grounded theory study is undertaken without a symbolic interactionism
framework as an explanatory framework, the researcher describes rather than explains the data.