Q methodology is a semi-quantitative research method that is used to define the perspectives of participants regarding a given discourse. The dimensions of the discourse are reflected in several statements that are scored by participants in order of the extent to which they agree or disagree. This scoring is performed by sorting the statements into a frame or grid. Each statement is allocated to one cell of the grid. The grid defines the scores that the statements receive. The shape of the grid can vary, thereby affecting the range of the scores, and the number of statements assigned per score.
The scores per statement for each of the participants of the exercise are extracted, analysed and clustered using inverted factor analysis. This analysis determines the number of perspectives that are present in the group of participants, the statements that are positively or negatively related with (loading onto) the perspectives (factors), and the participants belonging to the perspectives.
The QSample tool allows to analyse how the variation in the respondents (their perspectives, variation among participants representing a perspective and the correlations among the perspectives) and the choices regarding the Q grid affect the outcomes of the factor analysis and the allocation of statements and participants to the various perspectives.
The main window of the QSample user interface is presented in the figure below. The user can:
- Define perspectives, the correlations among perspectives, and the number of participants of the Q methodology exercise that are associated to each perspective, or none of the perspectives.
- The degree of variation among the Q Sorts within the perspectives.
- Define the grids used to rate the statements in the Q Sorts.
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