Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
ABOUT Q METHODOLOGY
| What is Q Methodology? | |
| How do I conduct a Q Study? | |
| What software is available for analyzing Q data? | |
| What software is available for conducting Q sorts online? |
SEARCHING Q PUBLICATIONS, NEWS AND EVENTS
JOINING ISSSS / Q EMAIL LIST
| How do I join ISSSS? | |
| How do I join the Q email list? | |
| How do I search the Q email list archives? | |
| How do I unsubscribe from the Q email list? |
OPERANT SUBJECTIVITY
CONTACT US
| How do I contact the Webmaster? |
What is Q Methodology?
| Q Methodology is a research method used to study people's "subjectivity" -- that is, their viewpoint. Q Methodology was originally developed by William Stephenson (1902-1989), an Englishman trained in physics (Ph.D., 1926), psychology (Ph.D., 1929) and psychometrics under the tutelage of Charles Spearman and Sir Cyril Burt. It has been used both in clinical settings for assessing patients, as well as in research settings to examine how people think about a topic. |
How do I conduct a Q Study?
| The basic steps of the Q sorting procedure are as follows. A heterogeneous set of items (called a Q sample) is drawn from the concourse. A group of respondents (P set) is instructed to rank-order (Q sort) the Q sample along a standardized continuum according to a specified condition of instruction. Participants do this according to their own likes and dislikes thus according to their own 'psychological significance'. The resulting Q sorts are submitted to correlation and factor analysis. Interpreted results are factors of 'operant subjectivity'. | |
| More detailed information about constructing, conducting and analyzing Q studies can be found in following Q Methodological Tutorial by Steven Brown, plus on the Tutorials section of the website. | |
What software is available for analyzing Q data?
| PQ Method is a DOS-based program specifically designed to statistically analyze Q data; it can be freely downloaded from Peter Schmolck's Q Method page. PCQ is a commercial Windows-based program for analyzing Q data; more information can be found at http://www.pcqsoft.com/ |
What software is available for conducting Q sorts online?
| There are a number of online Q Sort programs that can be customized to fit your own study. More information on these programs, plus examples of Q studies that have been conducted online, can be found on the Links page. |
| TOP |
How do I search for published Q articles by a specific author / on a particular topic?
| On the Q-Refs page, you can search a database of articles by Author, Title or Journal name. |
How can I add my reference to the database of articles?
| If you have a reference that is not included in the database, you may add your reference on the Q-Refs page. Start by selecting the reference type, then fill in the appropriate information and press submit. |
How do I find out about current news and events?
| Latest Q news and events are displayed on the News/Events page. |
How do I search archived news and events?
| You can browse archived news by month/year, or search using specific keywords on the News Search page. |
How do I find out about the annual Q conference?
| The 24th Annual Q-Conference will be held October 2-4, 2008 at the Hamilton Convention Centre, Hamilton, Ontario. The conference website has information regarding registration, the conference program, hotel and travel. | |
| Information on previous conferences can be found on the Past Conference page. |
| TOP |
How do I join ISSSS?
| Annual memberships in the International Society for the Scientific Study of Subjectivity (ISSSS) include a subscription to Operant Subjectivity. | |
| Annual membership fees are currently being accepted for 2008-2009 (October is the first month of the ISSSS fiscal year). Fees and payment information can be found on the ISSSS page. |
How do I join the Q email list?
| To subscribe to the Q-Method ListServ , you can send an email to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.KENT.EDU with the message SUBSCRIBE Q-METHOD . You may also join the email list by completing the form online; go to the ISSSS page and click on the "Join Q Listserv via Website" link. | |
| Additional commands to manage the list can be found on the ISSSS page. |
How do I search the Q email list archives?
| Email list subscribers are able to search Q email list archives. The archives can be searched from the ISSSS page by clicking the "Search Q Listserv" link or at http://listserv.kent.edu/archives/q-method.html. After logging in with the email and password used to subscribe, you may browse the archives by month/year, or search using specific keywords. |
How do I unsubscribe from the Q email list?
| You may leave the list at any time by sending a ''SIGNOFF Q-METHOD'' command to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.KENT.EDU. | |
| Additional commands to manage the list can be found on the ISSSS page. |
| TOP |
What is Operant Subjectivity?
| Operant Subjectivity is the official journal of the International Society for the Scientific Study of Subjectivity. Its primary mission is to foster understanding of subjectivity through presentation of original research, theoretical and philosophical critique, and methodological clarification. The journal is committed to the ideas and concepts of Q methodology as enunciated by William Stephenson (1902-1989), and, while not precluding alternative viewpoints, encourages contributions compatible with this commitment. | |
| More information can be found on the Operant Subjectivity website. |
How do I subscribe to Operant Subjectivity?
| Annual memberships in the International Society for the Scientific Study of Subjectivity (ISSSS) include a subscription to Operant Subjectivity. Fees and payment information can be found on the Subscription page of the Operant Subjectivity website. |
How do I search past issues of Operant Subjectivity?
| Abstracts of previous issues of Operant Subjectivity are available and can be searched on the Operant Subjectivity website. |
Can I access full articles?
| Currently, access to full articles of Operant Subjectivity is not available. However, abstracts of previous issues are available and can be searched on the Operant Subjectivity website. |
How do I submit contributions to Operant Subjectivity?
| Manuscripts should be submitted to the Editor via electronic mail. Instructions for Authors can be downloaded from the Operant Subjectivity website. |
How do I contact the Webmaster?
| Contact the Q Webmaster for questions, comments or suggestions about www.qmethod.org, www.operantsubjectivity.org and conference websites. |
| TOP |
