Q Methodology

1
Q Methodology

• Invented in 1935 by Stephenson (physicist/psycholo
  gist)
• Aim to account for subjectivity e.g
• appraisal of health care
• political attitudes
• anything that is difficult to quantify and
  enumerate
• Free software packages (e.g. Qmethod, Atkinson,
  1992) are available via the web.
• http//www.rz.unibw-muenchen.de/p41bsmk/qmethod/
• http//www.qmethod.org/
• Q-sort is the basis of Q Method i.e.
• obtain responses to a statement from strongly
  agree (4) to strongly disagree (-4)
• rank order the responses.

2
Case Study quality of health care

• K was in hospital for 2 days and underwent
  pre-operative tests, anaesthesia and an
  operation.
• K was invited to characterise the care given by
  the surgeon by Q-sorting 24 statements (on
  separate cards) into a quasi-normal distribution
  ranging from most like the care given by my
  surgeon (4) to most unlike (-4).
• The Q sort was followed by a focussed interview
  when K was invited to expand on his experience.

3
Q-sort of statements for the surgeons care.
Strongly disagree Strongly agree
Statements e.g. 20 Was honest about my
condition 24 Gave me good physical care 1
Volunteered to do little things for me 9
Touched me when I needed comforting
4
The care of other clinicians

• Nurse A catheterised K and explained the
  procedure and why it was needed.
• Nurse B repeated the procedure soon after, but
  with no good reason.
• Ks objections brought Nurse C who overrode Nurse
  Bs decision.
• K remembered his Mothers care when he was ill.

5
Correlation and Factor Matrices
6
Correlation and Factor Table

• The table shows the extent to which K experienced
  similar (or dissimilar) care from the clinicians.
• The surgeons demeanour was similar to Nurse As
  (r0.71)
• The surgeons demeanour was unlike his mothers
  (r -0.29)
• K experienced 3 different kinds of care (Factors
  I, II and III)

7
Factor Array
8
Three kinds of care Professional, Empowering,
Compassionate.

• I. The surgeon and Nurse A provided
• information and were well organised.
• II. Nurse C empowered K and gave him some
• control over his care.
• III. Ks mother gave comfort by talking and
• touching.

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References

• Brown, S.R., (1996), Q Methodology and
  Qualitative Research, Qualitative Health
  Research, (November), 6 (4), 561-567
• http//www.rz.unibw-muenchen.de/p41bsmk/qmethod/

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Correlation and factor matrices