Exploring subjectivity through Q methodology

This paper explores the process of planning and designing a project employing Q methodology to research beliefs and perspectives. The systematic study of subjectivity using Q Methodology offers a robust method for researching viewpoints with an established ninety-year history (Stephenson, 1935). It is valued for its statement sorting and ranking procedure that ‘mimics the typical human thought process for ideas, which is in relation to other ideas, not in isolation’ (Mackinnon et al, 2022). Increasingly, researchers studying beliefs are employing Q methodology (Camenzuli et al., 2023; Fraschini et al., 2024; Lundberg, 2019; Sung & Akhtar, 2017) due to its unique ability to ‘uncover patterns of beliefs, experiences or viewpoints that exist within a group’ (Brown, 1996). In addition, Q research methods are reported to be more engaging for participants and less time consuming to complete (ten Klooster et al., 2008) when compared to Likert scale surveys, and promote abstract thinking (Gao & Soranzo, 2020), generating findings that can be valued for their basis on ‘holistic thinking rather than on isolated ratings’ (Takács et. al, 2024). Q methodology may be fruitful for researchers across several fields of study, contributing to the exploration of global perspectives.