Qualitative Investigator Kit

4 Stories Qualitative Investigator Kit

Every person has a story.

4 Stories teaches learners how researchers turn stories into science.

Product Description

4 Stories is a hands-on qualitative research kit from Granite Hearth. Learners interview one another, take notes, identify themes, and build larger insights from real human experiences.

The kit introduces learners to foundational qualitative research skills through a simple, conversation based activity. It is designed for classrooms, libraries, youth programs, family learning, workforce readiness, and community based STEM activities.

Designed for

4 Stories can be used by:

Middle school and high school classrooms
Libraries and makerspaces
4 H and youth development programs
Family learning programs
Workforce readiness programs
Digital literacy and digital navigator programs
Community based STEM activities
Facilitators teaching communication, research, or human centered design

Quote on qualitative research by Dr. Tyler Jamison with a QR code.

4 Stories Qualitative Investigator Kit

$40.00

4 Stories is a qualitative research kit designed as an educational resource that helps learners develop essential STEM skills. This engaging kit allows users to practice interviewing, note-taking, theme identification, and evidence-based interpretation. Included in the kit are question cards, prompt cards, theme cards, blank note cards, and clear directions for conducting a short story-based research activity.

Orders for this qualitative research kit can be sent to:

4 Stories, Granite Hearth

PO BOX 401

Dover, NH 03820

How 4 Stories Works

Choose a question card: One learner asks a story-based question while the other shares an experience. This activity serves as an excellent education resource for enhancing qualitative research skills.

Listen and take notes: The interviewer writes short notes on the blank note cards, focusing not on transcribing every word, but on capturing meaningful details that support their STEM skills.

Use prompts for more detail: Prompt cards assist the interviewer in asking follow-up questions and encourage deeper storytelling, adding depth to the qualitative research kit.

Switch roles: Learners change roles so each person has the chance to interview and be interviewed, ensuring a comprehensive exchange of insights.

Identify themes: Learners review their notes to find repeated ideas, feelings, experiences, or challenges that emerged during their discussions.

Build a big idea: The group synthesizes a larger insight based on the themes they discovered, enriching their understanding and application of qualitative research.

What learners practice

4 Stories provides essential education resources for learners to: conduct short qualitative interviews, ask open-ended questions, listen carefully and take meaningful notes. By treating stories as data, they can identify themes across multiple responses, utilizing a qualitative research kit to support their findings. This approach enables learners to use evidence for interpretations and develop larger insights from human experiences, all while practicing crucial communication, reflection, and perspective-taking skills, which are vital for STEM skills support.

Why this is STEM

Science encompasses much more than just numbers. Researchers incorporate interviews, observations, and personal stories to gain insights into how people experience the world. This qualitative research method aids in ideating on problems and discovering innovative solutions that extend beyond mere improvements to existing models.

4 Stories provides learners with valuable education resources, including a qualitative research kit, which is beneficial across various fields such as education, sociology, public health, design, technology, workforce development, and community research.

The central idea remains straightforward:

Stories are data, and they play a crucial role in supporting STEM skills.

4 Stories Qualitative Investigator Kit

Learn by interviewing

Find patterns in stories

Build big ideas