Stepping Out of Double Myth of"Applicability"and"Universality"Created by Western Qualitative Research Methodology:A Sino-US Comparative Analysis Based on Cultural Dimension Theory
The Western system of qualitative research methodology has established and perpetuated its global monopoly through creating a dual myth of"applicability"and"universality",which non-Western qualitative researchers often find difficult to navigate or challenge.This paper reveals that Western qualitative methods are not universally applicable to non-Western countries,including China,through a comparative analysis of five key fieldwork elements between China and the United States.Using Geert Hofstede's Cultural Dimension theory as a primary analytical framework,the study examines how these fieldwork elements are shaped by cultural differences in the two cultures.The analysis shows that the lack of"applicability"of Western qualitative methods is rooted in the absence of"universality"within Western culture.Based on the Sino-US fieldwork comparison and cultural analysis,this paper deconstructs the internally coherent logic of Western qualitative methodology and explores a localized path to move beyond the dual myths of"applicability"and"universality"by developing a Chinese-style qualitative research framework rooted in local culture.
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