Q Methodology and Qualitative Research

Abstract

Q methodology combines the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative methods, and its use in research has been facilitated by recent developments in computer software. Q methodology is briefly illustrated in a single-case study of the subjective experience of health care, and the data generated are used to illustrate the QMethod package, a menu-driven freeware program for mainframes and PCs that facilitates Q-sort data entry, correlation and factor analysis, theoretical rotation of factors, and calculation of factor scores. Instructions are provided for obtaining QMethod, for subscribing to a journal devoted to Q methodology, and for joining the Q methodology electronic discussion group.

How organic farmers view their own practice: results from the Czech Republic

“…The rule of thumb is 30 -40 sorters; however "highly effective Q studies can be carried out with far fewer participants" (Watts et al 2005, p. 79). Previte et al (Previte et al 2007, p. 139) reported a study that used a sample of eight, Brown (Brown 1996) refers to a study that was based on six interviews.…”

Students’ perspectives of using cooperative learning in a flipped statistics classroom

“…Opinion statements, called concourse, were collected through group and personal interviews for this study. Concourse is usually collected from readymade items (e.g., essays, pictures, publications, paintings, photographs, and art pieces) or naturalistic sources (interviews or group discussions) (Brown, 1996;McKeown & Thomas, 1988;Valenta & Wigger, 1997). In this study, opinion statements were collected from the students during the interviews rather than using ready-made items.…”

“…In this study, opinion statements were collected from the students during the interviews rather than using ready-made items. It is important to note that Q-statements (i.e., the opinion statements of the research instrument) in Q-methodology are selected as carefully as the participant selection is conducted in any other scientific method (Brown, 1996;McKeown & Thomas, 1988;Valenta & Wigger, 1997). A content analysis was used to select the final Q-statements from the concourse with the help of two experts in the subject matter, who were asked to read through the original and final sets of statements and comment on them to help to reduce the opinion items to a manageable number and ensure that the selected Q-statements comprehensively represented the discussion about the flipped classroom approach.…”

Elaboração da versão em português do Psychotherapy Process Q-Set

“…Instrumento O PQS é um instrumento baseado na metodologia Q, também denominada método de ordenamento Q ou simplesmente método Q. Criado em 1935 pelo físico e psicólogo William Stephenson para estudar a subjetividade na perspectiva da própria pessoa 44 , o método foi posteriormente adaptado e modificado por Block 45 para permitir avaliações através de juízes externos. Em essência, seu propósito é fornecer uma descrição de um evento através do ordenamento (QSort) de uma série de itens que descrevem uma opinião, característica, aspecto psicológico ou comportamental de um indivíduo ou situação.…”