37. Q method

Q is a survey-based method in which researchers employ quantitative and qualitative techniques to characterize the different ways of thinking about a topic that exist. It provides a “bottom-up” approach to classifying the social world, as the researcher must induce meaning out of participants’ choices about how to rank order survey statements. To aid in this, Q studies are typically paired with other methods such as interviews. There are several analytical challenges to be aware of in using Q method, including whether it alone can support claims about how prevalent a shared perspective is and whether it provides “unbiased” results.