Q methodology in the covid-19 era

Alanazi, Ahmed S.; Wharrad, Heather; Moffatt, Fiona; Taylor, Michael; Ladan, Muhammad

Abstract

All face-to-face studies were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as they could not be run in person due to rules and guidance linked to social distancing which were in force during the outbreak. Finding and testing an available COVID-secure approach for both participants and researchers was important as was the need to continue conducting such studies during this critical time. At present, the extant literature indicates a clear gap in research that elucidates how to carry out a Q methodology study online, step by step. This paper describes an option for online Q methodology using an approach that simulates all of the steps performed in a face-to-face setting using an open-source software known as Easy-HtmlQ. Using a case study in telemedicine adoption as illustration, this paper also considers the perspective of both research participants and Q methodology researchers via semi-structured interviews. Using Easy-HtmlQ V1.1 in online Q methodology studies appears to be an affordable, practical and user-friendly solution. Some of the benefits associated with running Q methodology studies online were the decreased costs, enabling the recruitment of wider number of participants, providing a COVID-19-secure environment and offering convenience to both participants and researchers during the research process. The findings of this study may contribute to increasing the number of online Q methodology studies in the future, as it has succeeded in offering a feasible approach for Q methodology researchers.

Citation

Alanazi, A. S., Wharrad, H., Moffatt, F., Taylor, M., & Ladan, M. (2021). Q methodology in the covid-19 era. Healthcare, 9(11), Article 1491. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9111491

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 31, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Nov 2, 2021
• Publication Date: Nov 2, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jan 19, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 19, 2022
• Journal: Healthcare
• Electronic ISSN: 2227-9032
• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 11
• Article Number: 1491
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9111491
• Keywords: Health Information Management; Health Informatics; Health Policy; Leadership and Management
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7278616
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/11/1491