Q methodology

A topic in research methodology

Q methodology is an approach that is very similar to the repertory test technique for exploring a individual’s personal constructs, that derives from Kelly’s personal construct theory.

"Q methodology is a means of extracting subjective opinion. It was invented in 1935 by British physicist/psychologist William Stephenson …. It evolved from factor analytic theory…. It has since been applied outside the field of academic psychology, most notably in the fields of communication and political science, and more recently in the behavioural and health sciences…). Stephenson was interested in providing a way to reveal the subjectivity involved in any situation—it is life as lived from the standpoint of the person living it that is typically passed over by quantitative procedures and it is subjectivity in this sense that Q methodology is designed to examine…

Cross, 2005: 208

Like Kelly’s methodology, Q methodology combines ‘qualitative’ and ‘quantitative’ aspects of data collection and analysis. So Jansen and colleagues explain their choice of methodology:

“Q methodology was selected for this study because it provides a framework to identify as many views as possible around a given topic. Q methodology, which uses both qualitative and quantitative approaches, allows for the subjectivity of individuals’ viewpoints while providing researchers with quantitative statistical techniques to analyze the data. Consequently, this method enabled us to elicit and examine a set of viewpoints held by school counselors and principals regarding their professional relationship…

Janson et al, 2008: 354

They describe their data collection

In Q methodology the research instrument consists of a set of opinion statements, referred to as the Q sample …the goal is to represent a given topic as comprehensively as possible…

Q methodology does not require a large participant sample or a randomly generated participant sample. The goal is to deliberately access a range and diversity of pertinent viewpoints on the topic being investigated…

The participants sorted the 45 opinion statements, printed on 3-inch by 1-inch cards, into a forced distribution ranging from “least characteristic of your relationship” to “most characteristic of your relationship” with either their respective school counselor(s) or their principal…

Janson et al, 2008: 354

Source/s cited:

• Cross, R. M. (2005). Exploring attitudes: the case for Q methodology. Health Education Research, 20(2), 206-213. doi: 10.1093/her/cyg121
• Janson, C., Militello, M., & Kosine, N. (2008). Four Views of the Professional School Counselor—Principal Relationship: A Q-Methodology Study. Professional School Counseling, 11(6), 353-361.