Steps for Q-Sort Exercise

  1. PREPARE THE ROOM: Before participants arrive, arrange tables into individualQ sorting stations and lay out your A1 Q sorting grids (keep hold of everything else for now).
  1. INTRODUCTIONS, INFORMATION AND CONSENT: When participants arrive, distribute information and consent forms, answer any questions.
  1. SET UP:Assign each participant to their own Q-sort workspace and show draw their attention to the lead in question (condition of instruction) at the top of their A1 Q grid (e.g. ‘being a good doctor in my specialty means…’). We used most agree to most disagree, but you can choose any single face-valid dimension, e.g. most/least like me, most/least important etc.
  1. DISTRIBUTE A4 SHEETS:Hand out the A4 Q sort sheets to each group and ask them to write a unique identifier on it (e.g. their name or GMC number)
  1. INDICATE THE RESEARCH QUESTION:Both verbally and by drawing attention to the written version at the top of each A1 grid. Emphasize that you are seeking participants’ own personal viewpoints, that the scale is a continuum, and that there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to complete the task.
  1. DISTRIBUTE Q-SORT CARDS: Place the Q-sort statement cards in front of each participant in a single pile and explain that each card offers a different response to the research question.
  1. PRE-SORT: Ask participants to look at each card in turn, one at a time, and to divide them into three provisional ranking categories (e.gagree, disagree, neutral). When they have finished, ask them to count up the number of statements in each pile and write the totals onto their A4 Q sort sheet. We do this to gauge the distribution of statements. For example, on an agree/disagree scale, if there are lots of statements in the ‘agree’ pile, the neutral statements might be placed more towards one end of the Q sort rather than in the middle – this doesn’t affect the validity of the exercise.
  1. DISTRIBUTING THE AGREE PILE: Next, participants begin the finer grade ranking of statements onto the A1 Q sort grid. Ask participants to begin with the agree pile, and to put the other two piles to one side. They should then spread out the statements from the agree pile so that they can see them all at once. They should then start to distribute the statements on the grid, working from right (most disagree) to left. Once participants have finished this first step, ask them to let you know so that you can check their statements run right to left, and that there aren’t any gaps.
  1. DISTRIBUTING THE DISAGREE PILE: Participants should then move onto the disagree pile, and distribute those on the grid, working from left to right. It’s important that they complete this step before working on the neutral category.
  1. DISTRIBUTING THE NEUTRAL PILE: As above, ask participants to distribute the neutral statements, until the Q sort grid is full.
  1. CHECKING THE DISTRIBUTION: Once the Q-sort grid is full, participants have a chance to move around any statements to reach a distribution that they are happy with.
  1. RECORDING THE DISTRIBUTION ON THE A4 SHEET: Once participants are finished, ask them to record the position of the statements on the A4 sheet that you have provided them with. They should write the number of each statement onto the grid.
  1. POST SORT QUESTIONNAIRE:The post-sort questionnaire enables groups to explain some of their decisions, and will help us to interpret their Q sorts. Participants should complete these questionnaires without consulting with one another.
  1. COLLECTING THE Q SORT SHEET AND POST SORT QUESTIONNAIRE: When a participant indicates that they have finished, check:
  1. They have written statement numbers into each box on their Q sort ‘answer’ sheet,
  2. Their unique identifier is on it.
  3. They have written the number of statements in each of the three initial piles
  4. Their unique identifier is on their post-sort questionnaire.

Q Methods Resource Sheet

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Q research questions must be coherent and tightly focussed. A study might explore (a) the causes of something, (b) definitions/understandings of something, or (c) outcomes/policies in response to something. Don’t try and cover all of these at once!

Q ANALYSIS

Completed Q-sorts are inter-correlated and subjected to factor analysis. There are several dedicated software packages designed for this purpose. For example, PQ Method is freely available in DOS format, PCQ for windows must be bought but has more sophisticated features.

OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

The Q Method Page: is a great resource with Q methodological tutorials, bibliographies, and links to software packages. You can also join the Q listserv – a mailing list where members of the Q sort community provide support and debate developments in the method.

Watts, S. and Stenner, P. (2012) Doing Q Methodology: Theory, method and interpretation. London: Sage. This text provides an up to date account of all the main steps involved in doing Q sort research. It is very well-written and comprehensive.

Watts, S. and Stenner, P. (2005) Doing Q Methodology: Theory, method and interpretation. Qualitative Research in Psychology. 2, 67-91. An abridged version of the above text.

Brown, S.R. (1980) Political Subjectivity: Applications of Q methodology in political science. New Haven: Yale University Press. Widely considered to be the ‘Bible’ for Q methodologists!

Watts, S. (in press) How to Deliver a Q Methodological Study. Cardiff University ‘How To’ series. We can circulate this via email once it has been published.

EXAMPLE Q STUDIES

Eccleston, C., Williams, A, and Stainton Rogers, W. (1997) Patients’ and professionals’ understandings of the causes of chronic pain: Blame, responsibility and identity protection. Social Science and Medicine 45 (5), 699-709.

Stenner, P., Dancey, C. and Watts, S. (2000) The understanding of their illness amongst people with irritable bowel syndrome: A Q methodological study. Social Science and Medicine 51(3) 439-452.

OUR CONTACT DETAILS

We would love to hear from you if you’re thinking about using Q sort for a project on medical education and are happy to offer methodological support.

Professor Alison Bullock: Dr Esther Muddiman:

CUREMeDE – The Cardiff Unit for Research and Evaluation in Medical and Dental Education, Cardiff School of Social Sciences, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3WT Telephone: 02920 870780.

Remember to check back to our webpage for updates on the progress of the Q-sort analysis as part of our BBT project: