Yang, Yang (2018). A brief preview of Q methodology. In Victor C.X. Wang & Thomas G. Reio, Jr. (Eds.), Handbook of research on innovative techniques, trends, and analysis for optimized research methods (pp. 303-321, Ch. 18). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. (ISBN13: 9781522551645, ISBN10: 1522551646, EISBN13: 9781522551652) (Chapter doi: 10.4018/978-1-5225-5164-5.ch018; book doi: 10.4018/978-1-5225-5164-5)
Abstract: Q methodology systematically studies subjective matters such as thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors on a wide range of topics. The purpose of this chapter is to give a brief overview of Q methodology to readers across disciplines. This chapter presents several advantages of Q methodology that make it attractive to researchers and practitioners who are interested in understanding different perspectives or behavioral patterns among individuals toward any given topic. The author also discusses Q’s distinct position as a methodology and how it fits into the qualitative-mixed-
quantitative continuum. The chapter further uses two research studies the author conducted as applications to demonstrate how to perform a Q methodological study, involving the following steps: development of the Q sample, selection of the participants (P set), Q sorting, and analysis and interpretation of Q sorts.
Yang Yang <yyang001> is in the Department of Special Education, Counseling, and Student Affairs, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506 (USA).
