Q-Sort is used as the name of a sorting algotithm. It is common in UNIX systems. The following reference comes from the UNIX manual page for qsort:
Hoare, C.A.R., "Quicksort", The Computer Journal, 5:1, pp. 10-15, 1962. Is q-sort short for Quicksort? Paul Bielawski ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce Weaver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2004 3:41 PM Subject: Re: [edstat] Q-Sort / Q-methodology - What is "Q"? > Neil wrote: > > This may sound like a silly question, but for those of you are > > familiar with Q-Sort Analysis / Q-Methodology, (a type of Factor > > Analysis), does someone know what the "Q" actually stands for? > > > > I have found many journal articles and websites on this analysis/ > > methodology, but have not been able to find the above information in > > any of my sources. A definitive reference where this information can > > be found will help. > > > > TIA > > I initially thought Neil was talking about "Q-mode factor > analysis", as did some other respondents. David Garson > describes Q-mode factor analysis as follows > (http://www2.chass.ncsu.edu/garson/pa765/factor.htm): > > ------------------------------------------------------ > Factor Analytic Data Modes > > * R-mode factor analysis. R-mode is by far the most > common, so much so that it is normally assumed and not > labeled as such. In R-mode, rows are cases, columns are > variables, and cell entries are scores of the cases on the > variables. In R-mode, the factors are clusters of variables > on a set of people or other entities, at a given point of time. > > * Q-mode factor analysis, also called inverse factor > analysis, is factor analysis which seeks to cluster the > cases rather than the variables. That is, in Q-mode the rows > are variables and the columns are cases (ex., people), and > the cell entries are scores of the cases on the variables. > In Q-mode the factors are clusters of people for a set of > variables. Q-mode is used to establish the factional > composition of a group on a set of issues at a given point > in time. > > The Q-mode has the special problem of negative factor > loadings. In conventional factor analysis of variables, a > negative loading indicates a negative relation of the > variable to the factor. In Q-mode factor analysis, a > negative loading does not have a clear meaning. One common > approach is to consider all cases with negative loadings as > being in a cluster of their own. Some researchers consider > Q-mode factor analysis suspect due to negative loadings, the > possibility of singularities (columns with the same values), > and ranking problems. Most researchers prefer to use a more > accepted technique, such as some form of cluster analysis. > ------------------------------------------------------ > > But I don't think this is what Neil was talking about. The > following is from David Clark-Carter's book (reference given > below), in a section called "Techniques to Measure Meaning" > (p. 97): > > "Q-methodology is an approach to research which was devised > by Stephenson (1953). It requires participants or judges to > rate statements or other elements on a given dimension or on > a given basis. One technique which Q-methodology employs is > getting participants to perform Q-sorts. Typically a Q-sort > involves participants being presented with a set of > statements, each on an individual card, and being asked to > place those statements on a dimension, such as /very > important to me/ to /not imporant to me/." etc > > Clark-Carter refers to Kerlinger (1973), and says that > "[Carl] Rogers (1951, 1961) has used Q-sorts in the context > of counselling." > > Here's the Clark-Carter book info: > > Clark-Carter, D. (1997). Doing quantitative psychological > research: From design to report. East Hove, Sussex: > Psychological Press. > > Cheers, > Bruce > -- > Bruce Weaver > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > www.angelfire.com/wv/bwhomedir/ > > . > . > ================================================================= > Instructions for joining and leaving this list, remarks about the > problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES, and archives are available at: > . http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ . > ================================================================= > . . ================================================================= Instructions for joining and leaving this list, remarks about the problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES, and archives are available at: . http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ . =================================================================
