I first leaned about qualitative methods is in one of my anthropology class. And I was amazed and impressed when the professor told me how he researched mysterious local experiences about how an uneducated child can sing an lost long epic in Mongolia. The stories he provided were so live to me, and it somehow broadens my worldview, as well as arises my respect to human nature. Isn’t it a cool job to listen to write down different stories?
My first qualitative research experience is my undergraduate thesis about serendipity around scholars: sometimes researchers will encounter information that they eagerly want but cannot find originally. It’s a quite interesting experience, I listened to 11 stories and coded them using grounded theory. I was amazed about the richness of my final findings! Just from 11 stories, I began to understand the active and passive information searching procedures. And I understand why some people encounter information more often than others. So cool!
For quantitative research, you need to know the story in advance. And just try to prove or disprove your hypothesis. The surprise from quantitative approach (at least to me) is much less than the qualitative one.
More important, what I want to study now is an unrepresented population (i.e. deaf). Their intentions and culture are always misunderstood by public. And I believe qualitative approach will provide more authentic, holistic, and meaningful stories about that group.
