Q‐sort methodology: Bridging the divide between qualitative and quantitative. An introduction to an innovative method for psychotherapy research

Abstract

Q‐methodology offers unique opportunities for counselling and psychotherapy researchers and clinicians. It is an innovative technique capable of bridging the divide between clinical knowledge and the quantitative systematisation of it. It was initially developed by Stephenson as a data collection and data analytic method to empirically study human subjectivity. It was then extended by the British School to study shared viewpoints, thereby adopting a multi‐participant design and a highly unusual form of qualitative analysis. Finally, it was adapted by the Californian School for use as a standardised observer‐rated assessment tool. Its attractiveness stems from its aptitude to produce holistic data as it collects both quantitative and narrative data. This paper will provide an introduction to Q‐statistics and Q‐methodology (person‐centred) by contrasting it to R‐statistics and R‐methodology (variable‐centred). It will then provide an overview of the three schools of Q‐methodology and their various merits demonstrated with an example.

Percepción de fortalezas y debilidades en estudiantes de kinesiología a través del instrumento Q-Sort

“…Investigaciones previas han mostrado que Resultados Q-Sort Módulo RPK existe una agrupación de los enunciados a partir de las competencias a las que tributan (Escobar Cabello & Sánchez Soto, 2019), expresando el resultado porcentualmente. En la literatura existen distintos tipos de parrillas de graduación, incluso distintas escuelas que hacen ajustes (Rost, 2021); sin embargo, lo que se buscó fue realizar un proceso exploratorio que permita conocer las fortalezas y debilidades de los estudiantes por cada nivel de formación en relación con habilidades o destrezas específicas y no necesariamente del logro de las competencias como conglomerados.…”

Psychotherapy Dropout: Using the Adolescent Psychotherapy Q-Set to Explore the Early In-Session Process of Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

“…A second major limitation is the small sample size which precluded the carrying out of test of differences between the dropout groups. As Rost (2021) has pointed out, one of the most difficult practical aspects to navigate when Q and R methodology and statistics are combined is around the sample size. For a Q-study a small sample size (i.e., number of Q-sorts) is not considered a problem (Smith, 2001), however, for subsequent group comparisons following R-statistics, it is often too small and underpowered.…”

“…In contrast to variable-centred questionnaires or structured interviews, the items in a Q-sort are rank-ordered in relation to each other to obtain a holistic composite description of whatever is being studied, in this case the therapy session. It thereby retains the complexity of various interdependent variables, including those that belong to the patient, the therapist, and their dynamic interaction (Rost et al, 2018;Rost, 2021).…”

Q-Sort: A Blended Methodology Applied to a Personality Inventory

“…Additionally, Q-sort enables comparison between different individuals, facilitating the identification of patterns and individual differences. Another advantage of the Q-sort methodology is its flexibility and adaptability (Rost, 2021). It can be applied in both clinical situations and academic research, allowing for the analysis of various aspects of personality (e.g., temperament, social interaction styles, personal preferences; Lutfallah and Buchanan, 2019).…”