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PQMethod is a statistical program taylored to the requirements of Q studies. Specifically, it allows to easily enter data (Q-Sorts) the way they are collected, i.e. as 'piles' of statement numbers. It computes intercorrelations among Q-Sorts, which are then factor-analysed with the Centroid or, alternatively, PCA method. Resulting factors can be rotated either analytically (Varimax), or judgmentally with the help of two-dimensional plots. Finally, after selecting the relevant factors and 'flagging' the entries that define the factors, the analysis step produces an extensive report with a variety of tables on factor loadings, statement factor scores, discriminating statements for each of the factors as well as consensus statements across factors, etc. The original FORTRAN program, QMethod, was developed by John Atkinson at Kent State University in 1992 for mainframe platforms, and released to the Public Domain. It was ported by the maintainer of this site to the PC and updated with added features to versions 2.xx later on.
The current released version of PQMethod used to run under Windows up to XP:
- Download PQMethod release 2.11 for Windows 2002-Nov-28
- See also: Additional driver & program files page
With decreasing levels of DOS-compatibility, PQMethod with its graphics-"plugin", PQROT, may not run on newer PCs and Notebooks. Fortunately, help is near: With the free emulator software DOSBox, that runs on Windows as well as on Mac OS X and Linux, PQMethod can be used on virtually every computer.
- PQMethod with DOSBox, downloads and instructions for installing PC and Mac versions together on a single QSTICK.
Also available for downloading is the PQMethod FORTRAN77 source code that can be compiled on other platforms like LINUX as well.
- QUANAL
- Like QMethod, Norman Van Tubergen's QUANAL is a FORTAN program, developed in the 1960s for mainframe platforms. It is rather complex, and offers a great variety of features and options with respect to input-data structure, methods of analysis and the presentation of results. For further information contact Norm Van Tubergen. <huc129@uky.edu>.
- PCQ for Windows
- by Mike Stricklin is a commercial factor-analysis program for Q-technique.
- General-Purpose Statistical Packages
- The big commercial statistical packages like, for instance, SPSS, though highly-featured, user-friendly, flexible, etc. in many respects, do not provide optimal support for entering and factor-analysing Q-sort data. Yet, they may be indispensable for additional statistical procedures not available with QMethod software (e.g., analysis of variance). In practice, therefore, one often needs to use both, general and specialized statistical software, alongside with each other - especially in cases of mixed Q- and R-designs (within-subjects and between-subjects perspectives of analysis). An example that demonstrates how a typical Q analysis can be set up in SPSS is provided in the 'Q Study Archive' (see below).
WebQ is a JavaScript application for Q-sorting questionnaire items online.
A (still) small repository with examples of Q study data sets prepared for the various software packages. Where available, program output files are provided as well.
Since the QMethod Page is located in Germany, this page is dedicated to the still very small German Q-community. It is in the state of creation, and at the moment contains a list of the Q people from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
- qmethod.org
- The official Q Website of the International Society for the Scientific Study of Subjectivity (ISSSS)
- Electronic Discussion Group 'Q-METHOD'
- Browse recent contributions (provided by CIOS/Comserve)
- QArchive
- Maintained by Charles Cottle at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. Contains conference proceedings and other documents.
- Abduction Homepage
- Charles Peirce on abduction: "The surprising fact, C, is observed; But if A were true, C would be a matter of course, Hence, there is reason to suspect that A is true" (CP 5.189).
- Brown, Steven R. (1980). Political subjectivity. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
- A scanned version of Political Subjectivity was made available at the Kent State University Library (go to: http://reserves.library.kent.edu/courseindex.asp; from the "Select an instructor" drop-down menu, select "BROWN, Steven" and then click GO; at the next location, click on "POL Reference," and that should bring up the book).
- McKeown, Bruce & Thomas, Dan (1988): Q Methodology. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.
- Block, Jack (1961/1978): The Q-sort method in personality assessment and psychiatric research. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. (reprinted in 1978 by Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, CA). Available for download at: http://www.qmethod.org/articles/jack_block.pdf or at: http://www.psychology.sunysb.edu/attachment/measures/content/Jack_Block_Q-sort_method_book.pdf.
- Stainton Rogers, Rex & Stainton Rogers, Wendy (1990). What the Brits Got Out of the Q: And Why Their Work may not Line Up with the American Way of Getting Into It! Electronic Journal of Communication, 1 (1).
- The "Manifesto"
Stainton Rogers, Rex (1995): Q methodology. In J.A. Smith, R. Harré & L. Van Langenhofe (Eds.), Rethinking methods in psychology (pp. 178-192). London and Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Brown, Steven R. (1991/1992). A Q Methodological tutorial. Eight postings to QUALRS-L@UGA. Avaible at http://facstaff.uww.edu/cottlec/QArchive/Primer1.html
Brown, Steven R. (1996). Q methodology and qualitative research. Qualitative Health Research, 6(4), 561-567. Fulltext copy at this site.Donner, Jonathan C. (2001): Using q-sorts in participatory processes: An introduction to the methodology. In Social Analysis: Selected Tools and Techniques (Social Development Papers, Number 36, pp. 24-59) . Washington, DC: The World Bank, Social Development Department. Available also at: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTCDD/Resources/SAtools.pdf.
Müller, Florian H. & Kals, Elisabeth (2004, Mai). Die Q-Methode. Ein innovatives Verfahren zur Erhebung subjektiver Einstellungen und Meinungen [Q-Sort Technique and Q-Methodology: Innovative Methods for Examining Attitudes and Opinions]. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research [On-line Journal], 5(2), Art. 34. Available: http://www.qualitative-research.net/fqs-texte/2-04/2-04muellerkals-d.htm.
Van Exel, N. Job A. & de Graaf, Gjalt (2005). Q methodology: A sneak preview. Online document, available from qmethodology.net.
Webler, T., Danielson, S., & Tuler, S. (2009). Using Q method to reveal social perspectives in environmental research. Greenfield MA: Social and Environmental Research Institute. Available at: www.seri-us.org/pubs/Qprimer.pdf