Q-methodology for gerontological and geriatric research

Although Q-methodology is a method that has been developed more than three decades ago, in recent years it has gained traction as a result of increasing attention for the value of multi-methods and interest in combining both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Q-methodology can provide insight into the different perspectives on a specific topic in a certain population. It allows to find patterns in subjectivities. Q-methodology starts with inventorizing the different perspectives that are there and formulating them in a statement set (the Q-set). It then continues to ask respondents to rank them in accordance either face to face or digitally (Q method software tool). After this, several statistical methods can be used to analyse the variance in the ranking of statements, such as correlation and person-by-person analyses, and factor analyses to analyse the patterns for the identified perspectives. In this workshop you will get a quick introduction to q-methodology. We will go through the possible steps in developing a Q-set, data collection and data analysis. During the workshop we will have a hands-on dillema-approach and discuss the diffferent choices and challenges that you may encounter in using Q-methodology.