Q-methodology online
Study subjectivity, systematically.
qsort.org.uk is a workspace for researchers who want to find the shared viewpoints inside a contested topic. Build your Q-set, run the sort in any browser, and read the factors that emerge, without spreadsheets, printed cards, or specialist software.
What is Q-methodology?
A way of studying viewpoints rather than people. Instead of asking how many agree with a statement, Q asks how each person arranges the whole set of statements relative to each other, then looks for patterns across those arrangements.
- 01
Concourse
Gather the full range of things people say about your topic: interviews, media, literature, conversation.
- 02
Q-set
Distil that material into a manageable set of statements that fairly represents the whole debate.
- 03
Sorting
Each participant ranks the statements onto a grid, from most unlike to most like their own viewpoint.
- 04
Factors
Correlate and factor-analyse the sorts to reveal the shared viewpoints held across your participants.
Two examples to explore
Both run live in your browser. Nothing is saved and no sign-in is needed.
Example Q-sort
Work through a complete sorting task: read the statements, place them on the forced-choice grid, and add your reflections at the end.
Open demoResearcher viewResearcher portal
See how a study is put together: assembling the Q-set, shaping the distribution, inviting participants and reviewing what comes back.
Open demoIn development
Researcher accounts, saved studies, participant links and factor analysis with exportable results are all being built now. These demos are the first pieces of that work, and they will be updated often.