The Use of Interviews in Q Methodology

Abstract

The use of interviews can increase the validity of a Q methodological study by providing the participant's rationale for analysis of the factor arrays. When to perform the interviews is still under debate, and further study is required to determine whether the timing affects the results.

Practitioners' viewpoints on citizen science in water management: a case study in Dutch regional water resource management

“…The importance of post-sorting interviews, as stated by Gallagher and Porock (2010), was recognized in this work. In particular, statements with multiple fragments per viewpoint illustrated this.…”

“…Finally, the first author held a structured post-sorting interview. Post-sorting interviews were included in this study, because they can provide in-depth insight into the beliefs and values underlying the sorts and allow for an analysis based on the participants' rationale rather than on the available literature or the researcher's bias (Gallagher and Porock, 2010). Discussing all statements with participants would have been preferable, but was not feasible given the available time for this study and the geographic spreading of participants.…”

“…We followed the guidelines of Watts and Stenner (2012), Gallagher and Porock (2010) and Cools et al (2009), and used distinguishing statements. We created a narrative of the +4 and −4 ranked statements and the statements ranked highest in a single factor array, meaning this statement is ranked lower in all 158 E. Minkman et al: Practitioners' viewpoints on citizen science in water management Base statements on quotes from others (Watts &Stenner, 2000).…”

A Q methodological approach to identify practitioners' viewpoints on citizen science in Dutch regional water resource management

“…Post-sorting interviews were included in this study, because they can provide in-depth insight in to the beliefs and values 20 underlying the sorts and allow for an analysis based on the participants' rationale rather than on the available literature or the researcher's bias (Gallagher & Porock 2010). It would have been preferred if all statements could have been discussed after sorting, but this required too much time for both researchers and participants.…”

The Importance of Cross-Cultural Capabilities for Chinese Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Australia

“…This analysis demands the researcher identify shared viewpoints based on an interpretation of the emergent factors (McKeown & Thomas, 1988;Van Exel & De Graaf, 2005;Watts & Stenner, 2005a. Thus, the interpretation is often supported by additional qualitative data, for example, demographics (Gallagher & Porock, 2010;Phelan, 2014). In essence, Q methodology is considered a quantitative data-driven approach in the eyes of qualitative researchers (Davis & Michelle, 2011).…”