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 demo