diff --git a/.rspec b/.rspec
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c7a3d35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.rspec
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+--require ./spec/spec_helper.rb
diff --git a/.rubocop.yml b/.rubocop.yml
index ef28b33..1972ae6 100644
--- a/.rubocop.yml
+++ b/.rubocop.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+Metrics/BlockLength:
+  Exclude:
+    - 'spec/**/*_spec.rb'
+
 require:
   - rubocop-performance
 
@@ -6,3 +10,43 @@ Style/FrozenStringLiteralComment:
 
 Style/Documentation:
   Enabled: false
+
+Layout/EmptyLinesAroundAttributeAccessor:
+  Enabled: true
+
+Layout/SpaceAroundMethodCallOperator:
+  Enabled: true
+
+Lint/DeprecatedOpenSSLConstant:
+  Enabled: true
+
+Lint/MixedRegexpCaptureTypes:
+  Enabled: true
+
+Lint/RaiseException:
+  Enabled: true
+
+Lint/StructNewOverride:
+  Enabled: true
+
+Style/ExponentialNotation:
+  Enabled: true
+
+Style/HashEachMethods:
+  Enabled: true
+
+Style/HashTransformKeys:
+  Enabled: true
+
+Style/HashTransformValues:
+  Enabled: true
+
+Style/RedundantRegexpCharacterClass:
+  Enabled: true
+
+Style/RedundantRegexpEscape:
+  Enabled: true
+
+Style/SlicingWithRange:
+  Enabled: true
+
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6c6983f..4f2f7f8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -48,6 +48,17 @@ Available matchers:
 * `expect(document).to have_jsonapi_object`
 * `expect(document).to have_jsonapi_object('version' => '1.0')`
 
+### Indifferent Matching
+```ruby
+# spec/spec_helpers.rb
+
+RSpec.configure do |config|
+  # ...
+  config.allow_symbolized_jsonapi = true
+end
+```
+The configuration above allows the RSpec matchers to work with a symbolized jsonapi source document.
+
 ## Advanced examples
 
 Checking for an included resource:
diff --git a/lib/jsonapi/rspec.rb b/lib/jsonapi/rspec.rb
index af70a34..7414de2 100644
--- a/lib/jsonapi/rspec.rb
+++ b/lib/jsonapi/rspec.rb
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@
 require 'jsonapi/rspec/meta'
 require 'jsonapi/rspec/jsonapi_object'
 
+RSpec.configure do |c|
+  c.add_setting :allow_symbolized_jsonapi, default: false
+end
+
 module JSONAPI
   module RSpec
     include Id
@@ -16,5 +20,12 @@ module RSpec
     include Links
     include Meta
     include JsonapiObject
+
+    def self.as_indifferent_hash(doc)
+      return doc unless ::RSpec.configuration.allow_symbolized_jsonapi
+      return doc.with_indifferent_access if doc.respond_to?(:with_indifferent_access)
+
+      JSON.parse(JSON.generate(doc))
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/jsonapi/rspec/attributes.rb b/lib/jsonapi/rspec/attributes.rb
index 09b064f..abddb1e 100644
--- a/lib/jsonapi/rspec/attributes.rb
+++ b/lib/jsonapi/rspec/attributes.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ module RSpec
     module Attributes
       ::RSpec::Matchers.define :have_attribute do |attr|
         match do |actual|
+          actual = JSONAPI::RSpec.as_indifferent_hash(actual)
           (actual['attributes'] || {}).key?(attr.to_s) &&
             (!@val_set || actual['attributes'][attr.to_s] == @val)
         end
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ module Attributes
 
       ::RSpec::Matchers.define :have_jsonapi_attributes do |*attrs|
         match do |actual|
+          actual = JSONAPI::RSpec.as_indifferent_hash(actual)
           return false unless actual.key?('attributes')
 
           counted = (attrs.size == actual['attributes'].size) if @exactly
diff --git a/lib/jsonapi/rspec/id.rb b/lib/jsonapi/rspec/id.rb
index 3130610..504df38 100644
--- a/lib/jsonapi/rspec/id.rb
+++ b/lib/jsonapi/rspec/id.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ module JSONAPI
   module RSpec
     module Id
       ::RSpec::Matchers.define :have_id do |expected|
-        match { |actual| actual['id'] == expected }
+        match do |actual|
+          JSONAPI::RSpec.as_indifferent_hash(actual)['id'] == expected
+        end
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/lib/jsonapi/rspec/jsonapi_object.rb b/lib/jsonapi/rspec/jsonapi_object.rb
index 8916bc2..e6c252e 100644
--- a/lib/jsonapi/rspec/jsonapi_object.rb
+++ b/lib/jsonapi/rspec/jsonapi_object.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ module RSpec
     module JsonapiObject
       ::RSpec::Matchers.define :have_jsonapi_object do |val|
         match do |actual|
+          actual = JSONAPI::RSpec.as_indifferent_hash(actual)
           actual.key?('jsonapi') &&
             (!val || actual['jsonapi'] == val)
         end
diff --git a/lib/jsonapi/rspec/links.rb b/lib/jsonapi/rspec/links.rb
index 3d8265a..62fb940 100644
--- a/lib/jsonapi/rspec/links.rb
+++ b/lib/jsonapi/rspec/links.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ module RSpec
     module Links
       ::RSpec::Matchers.define :have_link do |link|
         match do |actual|
+          actual = JSONAPI::RSpec.as_indifferent_hash(actual)
           actual.key?('links') && actual['links'].key?(link.to_s) &&
             (!@val_set || actual['links'][link.to_s] == @val)
         end
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ module Links
 
       ::RSpec::Matchers.define :have_links do |*links|
         match do |actual|
+          actual = JSONAPI::RSpec.as_indifferent_hash(actual)
           return false unless actual.key?('links')
 
           links.all? { |link| actual['links'].key?(link.to_s) }
diff --git a/lib/jsonapi/rspec/meta.rb b/lib/jsonapi/rspec/meta.rb
index ac33e8c..c8983fa 100644
--- a/lib/jsonapi/rspec/meta.rb
+++ b/lib/jsonapi/rspec/meta.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ module RSpec
     module Meta
       ::RSpec::Matchers.define :have_meta do |val|
         match do |actual|
+          actual = JSONAPI::RSpec.as_indifferent_hash(actual)
           actual.key?('meta') &&
             (!val || actual['meta'] == val)
         end
diff --git a/lib/jsonapi/rspec/relationships.rb b/lib/jsonapi/rspec/relationships.rb
index fbbe0da..50441e8 100644
--- a/lib/jsonapi/rspec/relationships.rb
+++ b/lib/jsonapi/rspec/relationships.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ module RSpec
     module Relationships
       ::RSpec::Matchers.define :have_relationship do |rel|
         match do |actual|
+          actual = JSONAPI::RSpec.as_indifferent_hash(actual)
           return false unless (actual['relationships'] || {}).key?(rel.to_s)
 
           !@data_set || actual['relationships'][rel.to_s]['data'] == @data_val
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ module Relationships
 
       ::RSpec::Matchers.define :have_relationships do |*rels|
         match do |actual|
+          actual = JSONAPI::RSpec.as_indifferent_hash(actual)
           return false unless actual.key?('relationships')
 
           rels.all? { |rel| actual['relationships'].key?(rel) }
diff --git a/lib/jsonapi/rspec/type.rb b/lib/jsonapi/rspec/type.rb
index 71d6a18..a2272ac 100644
--- a/lib/jsonapi/rspec/type.rb
+++ b/lib/jsonapi/rspec/type.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ module JSONAPI
   module RSpec
     module Type
       ::RSpec::Matchers.define :have_type do |expected|
-        match { |actual| actual['type'] == expected }
+        match do |actual|
+          JSONAPI::RSpec.as_indifferent_hash(actual)['type'] == expected
+        end
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/jsonapi/attributes_spec.rb b/spec/jsonapi/attributes_spec.rb
index fec83ac..63add50 100644
--- a/spec/jsonapi/attributes_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/jsonapi/attributes_spec.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
-require 'spec_helper'
-
 RSpec.describe JSONAPI::RSpec do
-  let(:doc) do
+  json_doc =
     {
       'attributes' => {
         'one' => 1,
@@ -9,17 +7,28 @@
         'four' => 3
       }
     }
-  end
 
   describe '#have_attribute' do
-    it { expect(doc).to have_attribute(:one) }
-    it { expect(doc).not_to have_attribute(:five) }
+    context 'when attributes is present' do
+      it { expect(json_doc).to have_attribute(:one) }
+      it { expect(json_doc).not_to have_attribute(:five) }
+    end
+
+    context 'when attributes is not present' do
+      it { expect({}).not_to have_attribute(:one) }
+    end
   end
 
   describe '#have_jsonapi_attributes' do
-    it { expect(doc).to have_jsonapi_attributes(:one, :two) }
-    it { expect(doc).not_to have_jsonapi_attributes(:two, :five) }
-    it { expect(doc).to have_jsonapi_attributes(:one, :two, :four).exactly }
-    it { expect(doc).not_to have_jsonapi_attributes(:one).exactly }
+    context 'when attributes is present' do
+      it { expect(json_doc).to have_jsonapi_attributes(:one, 'two') }
+      it { expect(json_doc).not_to have_jsonapi_attributes(:two, 'five') }
+      it { expect(json_doc).to have_jsonapi_attributes(:one, :two, 'four').exactly }
+      it { expect(json_doc).not_to have_jsonapi_attributes(:one).exactly }
+    end
+
+    context 'when attributes is not present' do
+      it { expect({}).not_to have_jsonapi_attributes(:one, 'two') }
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/jsonapi/id_spec.rb b/spec/jsonapi/id_spec.rb
index 96a42d0..bb1d587 100644
--- a/spec/jsonapi/id_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/jsonapi/id_spec.rb
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
-require 'spec_helper'
-
 RSpec.describe JSONAPI::RSpec, '#have_id' do
-  it 'succeeds when id matches' do
-    expect('id' => 'foo').to have_id('foo')
-  end
-
-  it 'fails when id mismatches' do
-    expect('id' => 'foo').not_to have_id('bar')
-  end
+  json_doc =
+    {
+      'id' => 'foo'
+    }
 
-  it 'fails when id is absent' do
-    expect({}).not_to have_id('foo')
+  describe '#have_id' do
+    context 'when id is present' do
+      it { expect(json_doc).to have_id('foo') }
+      it { expect(json_doc).not_to have_id('bar') }
+    end
+    context 'when id is not present' do
+      it { expect({}).not_to have_id('foo') }
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/jsonapi/jsonapi_object_spec.rb b/spec/jsonapi/jsonapi_object_spec.rb
index 9f4539d..1121fca 100644
--- a/spec/jsonapi/jsonapi_object_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/jsonapi/jsonapi_object_spec.rb
@@ -1,29 +1,21 @@
-require 'spec_helper'
+RSpec.describe JSONAPI::RSpec do
+  json_doc =
+    {
+      'jsonapi' => {
+        'version' => '1.0'
+      }
+    }
 
-RSpec.describe JSONAPI::RSpec, '#have_jsonapi_object' do
-  context 'when providing no value' do
-    it 'succeeds when jsonapi object is present' do
-      expect('jsonapi' => { 'version' => '1.0' }).to have_jsonapi_object
+  describe '#have_jsonapi_object' do
+    context 'when jsonapi is present' do
+      it { expect(json_doc).to have_jsonapi_object }
+      it { expect(json_doc).to have_jsonapi_object('version' => '1.0') }
+      it { expect(json_doc).not_to have_jsonapi_object('version' => '2.0') }
     end
 
-    it 'fails when jsonapi object is absent' do
-      expect({}).not_to have_jsonapi_object
-    end
-  end
-
-  context 'when providing a value' do
-    it 'succeeds when jsonapi object matches' do
-      expect('jsonapi' => { 'version' => '1.0' })
-        .to have_jsonapi_object('version' => '1.0')
-    end
-
-    it 'fails when jsonapi object mismatches' do
-      expect('jsonapi' => { 'version' => '2.0' })
-        .not_to have_jsonapi_object('version' => '1.0')
-    end
-
-    it 'fails when jsonapi object is absent' do
-      expect({}).not_to have_jsonapi_object('version' => '1.0')
+    context 'when jsonapi is not present' do
+      it { expect({}).not_to have_jsonapi_object }
+      it { expect({}).not_to have_jsonapi_object('version' => '1.0') }
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/jsonapi/links_spec.rb b/spec/jsonapi/links_spec.rb
index cbca90e..293fefd 100644
--- a/spec/jsonapi/links_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/jsonapi/links_spec.rb
@@ -1,24 +1,33 @@
-require 'spec_helper'
-
 RSpec.describe JSONAPI::RSpec do
-  let(:doc) do
+  json_doc =
     {
       'links' => {
         'self' => 'self_link',
         'related' => 'related_link'
       }
     }
-  end
 
-  context '#have_link' do
-    it { expect(doc).to have_link(:self) }
-    it { expect(doc).to have_link(:self).with_value('self_link') }
-    it { expect(doc).not_to have_link(:self).with_value('any_link') }
-    it { expect(doc).not_to have_link(:any) }
+  describe '#have_link' do
+    context 'when links is present' do
+      it { expect(json_doc).to have_link(:self) }
+      it { expect(json_doc).to have_link(:self).with_value('self_link') }
+      it { expect(json_doc).not_to have_link(:self).with_value('any_link') }
+      it { expect(json_doc).not_to have_link(:any) }
+    end
+
+    context 'when links is not present' do
+      it { expect({}).not_to have_link(:self) }
+    end
   end
 
-  context '#have_links' do
-    it { expect(doc).to have_links(:self, :related) }
-    it { expect(doc).not_to have_links(:self, :other) }
+  describe '#have_links' do
+    context 'when links is present' do
+      it { expect(json_doc).to have_links(:self, 'related') }
+      it { expect(json_doc).not_to have_links(:self, 'other') }
+    end
+
+    context 'when links is not present' do
+      it { expect({}).not_to have_links(:self, 'related') }
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/jsonapi/meta_spec.rb b/spec/jsonapi/meta_spec.rb
index 9a9b134..15bd01a 100644
--- a/spec/jsonapi/meta_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/jsonapi/meta_spec.rb
@@ -1,27 +1,21 @@
-require 'spec_helper'
+RSpec.describe JSONAPI::RSpec do
+  json_doc =
+    {
+      'meta' => {
+        'foo' => 'bar'
+      }
+    }
 
-RSpec.describe JSONAPI::RSpec, '#have_meta' do
-  context 'when providing no value' do
-    it 'succeeds when meta is present' do
-      expect('meta' => {}).to have_meta
+  describe '#have_meta' do
+    context 'when meta is present' do
+      it { expect(json_doc).to have_meta }
+      it { expect(json_doc).to have_meta('foo' => 'bar') }
+      it { expect(json_doc).not_to have_meta('foo' => 'baz') }
     end
 
-    it 'fails when meta is absent' do
-      expect({}).not_to have_meta
-    end
-  end
-
-  context 'when providing a value' do
-    it 'succeeds when meta matches' do
-      expect('meta' => { foo: 'bar' }).to have_meta(foo: 'bar')
-    end
-
-    it 'fails when meta mismatches' do
-      expect('meta' => { foo: 'bar' }).not_to have_meta(bar: 'baz')
-    end
-
-    it 'fails when meta is absent' do
-      expect({}).not_to have_meta(foo: 'bar')
+    context 'when meta is not present' do
+      it { expect({}).not_to have_meta }
+      it { expect({}).not_to have_meta('foo' => 'bar') }
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/jsonapi/relationships_spec.rb b/spec/jsonapi/relationships_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c5c7a3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/jsonapi/relationships_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+RSpec.describe JSONAPI::RSpec do
+  json_doc =
+    {
+      'relationships' => {
+        'posts' => {
+          'data' => {
+            'id' => '1',
+            'type' => 'posts'
+          }
+        },
+        'comments' => {
+          'data' => [{
+            'id' => '1',
+            'type' => 'posts'
+          }, {
+            'id' => '2',
+            'type' => 'hides'
+          }]
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+  describe '#have_relationship' do
+    context 'when relationships is present' do
+      it { expect(json_doc).to have_relationship('posts') }
+      it { expect(json_doc).not_to have_relationship('mails') }
+      it { expect(json_doc).to have_relationship('posts').with_data({ 'id' => '1', 'type' => 'posts' }) }
+      it do
+        expect(json_doc).to have_relationship('comments').with_data(
+          [{ 'id' => '1', 'type' => 'posts' }, { 'id' => '2', 'type' => 'hides' }]
+        )
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when relationships is not present' do
+      it { expect({}).not_to have_relationship('posts') }
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#have_relationships' do
+    context 'when relationships is present' do
+      it { expect(json_doc).to have_relationships('posts', 'comments') }
+      it { expect(json_doc).not_to have_relationships('posts', 'comments', 'mails') }
+    end
+
+    context 'when relationships is not present' do
+      it { expect({}).not_to have_relationships('posts', 'comments') }
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/jsonapi/type_spec.rb b/spec/jsonapi/type_spec.rb
index 1b23233..e6639db 100644
--- a/spec/jsonapi/type_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/jsonapi/type_spec.rb
@@ -1,15 +1,17 @@
-require 'spec_helper'
-
 RSpec.describe JSONAPI::RSpec, '#have_type' do
-  it 'succeeds when type matches' do
-    expect('type' => 'foo').to have_type('foo')
-  end
+  json_doc =
+    {
+      'type' => 'foo'
+    }
 
-  it 'fails when type mismatches' do
-    expect('type' => 'foo').not_to have_type('bar')
-  end
+  describe '#have_tyoe' do
+    context 'when type is present' do
+      it { expect(json_doc).to have_type('foo') }
+      it { expect(json_doc).not_to have_type('bar') }
+    end
 
-  it 'fails when type is absent' do
-    expect({}).not_to have_type('foo')
+    context 'when type is not present' do
+      it { expect({}).not_to have_type('foo') }
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/rspec_spec.rb b/spec/rspec_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4164215
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/rspec_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+require 'support/sample_jsonapi'
+
+RSpec.describe JSONAPI::RSpec do
+  include SampleJsonapi
+
+  before(:each) { RSpec.configuration.allow_symbolized_jsonapi = enable }
+
+  describe 'with allow_symbolized_jsonapi true' do
+    let(:enable) { true }
+
+    it 'returns a string keyed hash unchanged' do
+      expect(JSONAPI::RSpec.as_indifferent_hash(document)).to eql(document)
+    end
+
+    it 'returns an indifferent hash unchanged' do
+      expect(
+        JSONAPI::RSpec.as_indifferent_hash(
+          indifferent_document
+        ).respond_to?(:with_indifferent_access)
+      ).to be_truthy
+    end
+
+    it 'returns a symbolized hash with stringifyed keys' do
+      expect(JSONAPI::RSpec.as_indifferent_hash(symbolized_document)).to eql(document)
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe 'with allow_symbolized_jsonapi false' do
+    let(:enable) { false }
+
+    it 'returns a string keyed hash unchanged' do
+      expect(JSONAPI::RSpec.as_indifferent_hash(document)).to eql(document)
+    end
+
+    it 'returns an indifferent hash unchanged' do
+      expect(
+        JSONAPI::RSpec.as_indifferent_hash(
+          indifferent_document
+        ).respond_to?(:with_indifferent_access)
+      ).to be_truthy
+    end
+
+    it 'returns a symbolized hash unchanged' do
+      expect(JSONAPI::RSpec.as_indifferent_hash(symbolized_document)).to eql(symbolized_document)
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/support/sample_jsonapi.rb b/spec/support/sample_jsonapi.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3757b04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/support/sample_jsonapi.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+require 'active_support/core_ext/hash/indifferent_access'
+
+module SampleJsonapi # rubocop:disable Metrics/ModuleLength
+  SAMPLE_JSONAPI = {
+    'jsonapi' => {
+      'version' => '1.0'
+    },
+    'links' => {
+      'self' => 'http://example.com/articles',
+      'next' => 'http://example.com/articles?page[offset]=2',
+      'last' => 'http://example.com/articles?page[offset]=10'
+    },
+    'data' => [
+      {
+        'type' => 'articles',
+        'id' => '1',
+        'attributes' => {
+          'title' => 'JSON API paints my bikeshed!'
+        },
+        'relationships' => {
+          'author' => {
+            'links' => {
+              'self' => 'http://example.com/articles/1/relationships/author',
+              'related' => 'http://example.com/articles/1/author'
+            },
+            'data' => {
+              'type' => 'people',
+              'id' => '9'
+            }
+          },
+          'comments' => {
+            'links' => {
+              'self' => 'http://example.com/articles/1/relationships/comments',
+              'related' => 'http://example.com/articles/1/comments'
+            },
+            'data' => [
+              {
+                'type' => 'comments',
+                'id' => '5'
+              },
+              {
+                'type' => 'comments',
+                'id' => '12'
+              }
+            ]
+          }
+        },
+        'links' => {
+          'self' => 'http://example.com/articles/1'
+        }
+      }
+    ],
+    'included' => [
+      {
+        'type' => 'people',
+        'id' => '9',
+        'attributes' => {
+          'first-name' => 'Dan',
+          'last-name' => 'Gebhardt',
+          'twitter' => 'dgeb'
+        },
+        'links' => {
+          'self' => 'http://example.com/people/9'
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        'type' => 'comments',
+        'id' => '5',
+        'attributes' => {
+          'body' => 'First!'
+        },
+        'relationships' => {
+          'author' => {
+            'data' => {
+              'type' => 'people',
+              'id' => '2'
+            }
+          }
+        },
+        'links' => {
+          'self' => 'http://example.com/comments/5'
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        'type' => 'comments',
+        'id' => '12',
+        'attributes' => {
+          'body' => 'I like XML better'
+        },
+        'relationships' => {
+          'author' => {
+            'data' => {
+              'type' => 'people',
+              'id' => '9'
+            }
+          }
+        },
+        'links' => {
+          'self' => 'http://example.com/comments/12'
+        }
+      }
+    ],
+    'meta' => {
+      'totalPages' => 13,
+      'numberOfViews' => 25
+    }
+  }.freeze
+
+  # document formats for rspec as_indifferent_hash testing
+
+  def document
+    SAMPLE_JSONAPI
+  end
+
+  def symbolized_document
+    symbolize_keys(SAMPLE_JSONAPI)
+  end
+
+  def indifferent_document
+    SAMPLE_JSONAPI.with_indifferent_access
+  end
+
+  def symbolize_keys(doc)
+    newdoc = doc.transform_keys(&:to_sym)
+    newdoc.transform_values! do |val|
+      if val.respond_to?('transform_keys!')
+        symbolize_keys(val)
+      elsif val.is_a?(Array)
+        symbolize_array(val)
+      else
+        val
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  def symbolize_array(array)
+    array.map do |element|
+      next unless element.respond_to?('transform_keys!') ||
+                  element.respond_to?('each')
+
+      symbolize_keys(element)
+    end
+  end
+end