Charles L. Mitchell

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 Liebes Christian and Olivers 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 Os data is analyzed to answer questions about European Unions future. Attempting social science observations about European Unions future from C and O’s data is testing an extreme hypothesis with qualitative data. Hermeneutics technique is used to analyze the C and Os data. A purposive sample of three episodes is selected. Developments in each case in the sample is sequentially analyzed. Characters narrative identity, audiences urban myth identity, and Eric Ericksons concept of generativity are followed, sequentially. Such data analysis allows interpretivist conclusions. The papers 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 Os 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.

European Union's Crisis and Qualitative Methods

The crisis now occurring in European Union has substantial implications for the continued prosperity and stability of Europe. Busch, Hermann, Hinrichs, and Schulten present three possible scenarios explaining how the EU crisis could resolve. First, EU could muddle through managing issues somehow on a day to day basis. Second, the Eurozone could collapse. Third, constitutional reform of the EU could occur allowing positive economic initiatives to resolve the recession conditions in the present crisis. The methodology used is a narrative technique involving the creation of slide shows about a television personality, Thore Schölermann. German television has recently featured Schölermann has host of a talent program, The Voice of Germany. A lifestyle news program, TAFF, has had Schölermann as a co-host. He has appeared on Ich Liebe Deutschland, a quiz program. He has competed on TV Total Diving, where personalities compete in sports. Perhaps Schölermann is most famous for his Christian Mann role in the soap opera Verbotene Leibe. Appearing on German television in these five type of programs has made Schölermann significant in educating Germans about the present EU crisis. Narrative slide show involves the researcher with a constructionism about present day Europe. The researcher is then able to upload the slide show in video format to YouTube and observe how the slide show interacts with society. Various qualitative methods techniques are involved including narrative, social action research, the narrative authority of a subaltern, the social construction of knowledge, and the deconstruction of knowledge. The results produced by qualitative analysis emphasizing data that indicates these slide show narratives have substantial global interest. The likely scenario presented explains the EU has problems resolving conflicts between regionalism and globalism. While the difficulties EU confronts are many, A politics of entschuldigen sie is suggested from the name Schölermann. The countries with the prosperous economies rise to an apology and continue helping weaker member states in EU. Gains from globalism become popularly realized to be greater when regional cooperation continues Analyzing Schölermanns television role leads to the conclusion that learning experience can allow EU to continue muddling through as regional and global gains occur.