A Q‐methodological study of lesbian identities

Abstract

Abstract

A Q-methodological study of smoking identities

“…This position has some parallels with factors in previous Q-methodological studies, most notably Kitzinger and colleagues' study of lesbian identities (Kitzinger & Stainton-Rodgers, 1985) in the 'individualistic' identity, where although happy to identify as lesbian, the women who define this factor were not happy to be labelled, and saw their lesbian behaviour as only one part of their multiplicity of 'things they do'. Similarly, in Factor Three +, there is no denial of being a smoker, it is simply 'no big deal' and understood as a behaviour which delivers enjoyment and relief from boredom, rather than a core aspect of identity.…”

What's in a name? Exploring the sexual identity of Black Women-Loving-Women in Soweto

“…The method's strength is that it allows participants to provide their subjective points of view about the social issue under investigation, which are then explored through factor analytic statistical techniques (Kitzinger and Stainton-Rogers, 1985). Inherent in Q methodology is the scientific and philosophical understanding given to subjectivity where the data is primarily self-referenced (McKeown, 1984).…”

Factors associated with choosing a career in clinical psychology—undergraduate minority ethnic perspectives

“…Choice of methodological approach Q methodology was described by Stephenson (1935) as the 'inverted factor technique' -factor analysis of a data matrix by rows rather than columns, so that individuals, instead of tests, constitute the variables (Kitzinger & Stainton Rogers, 1985). A thorough account of Q methodology is outside the scope of this article, but several are readily available (e.g., Shemmings, 2006;Watts & Stenner, 2005a).…”