Evaluating Qualitative Methods with Emphasis on Global Studies

Knowledge building has been the evaluative standard for qualitative methods for decades. This paper analyzes how qualitative techniques succeed in knowledge building. Social action research explains that effective social analysis sometimes require involvement. Critical action research demands research accomplish a positive purpose. The historical influence of early qualitative methods evidences a social commitment. The process of knowledge building now attempted by qualitative methods is influenced by social concern. The process of knowledge building is explained to follow social realities that are both analyzable and unanalyzable. Some societies welcome social science whereas others are almost completely closed. Social science seeks knowledge about both types of cultures. Knowledge may be acquired in a haphazard way or knowledge may be sought systematically. From the interest in creating emergent knowledge, various qualitative methods techniques have developed. Qualitative methods still maintains the traditional social science connection to data. Qualitative methods findings must emanate from data. How data is defined, however, has considerable latitude. The 477 episodes of Verbotene Liebe's Christian and Oliver's Story that uploaded to YouTube are qualitative data. VL is German public television. To exemplify the methodological problems of many types of qualitative data, this paper considers narrative analysis. Narrative analysis allows a discussion of whether qualitative methods can possibly resolve extreme hypotheses. A hypotheses that has profound societal level implications is termed an extreme hypothesis. The C and O's data is analyzed to answer questions about European Union's future. Attempting social science observations about European Union's future from C and O’s data is testing an extreme hypothesis with qualitative data. Hermeneutics technique is used to analyze the C and O's data. A purposive sample of three episodes is selected. Developments in each case in the sample is sequentially analyzed. Character's narrative identity, audience's urban myth identity, and Eric Erickson's concept of generativity are followed, sequentially. Such data analysis allows interpretivist conclusions. The paper's purpose is to analyze the usefulness of qualitative methods in global studies. Following narrative data substantiates that qualitative methods could be invaluable in global studies. Beyond that, the themes followed in C and O's indicate a high level of belief in German culture. The issue of limits for the adaptation to Europe Union are popularly presented. Disparity of wealth among union members is a concern. German establishment virtues are shown capable of producing public goods. Social issue liberalism is offered as evidence that Germany is succeeding acquiring long sought accoutrements of democracy. The German audience is encouraged to maintain options other than European Union