================================================================== The gateway between this list and the sci.stat.edu newsgroup will be disabled on June 9. This list will be discontinued on June 21. Subscribe to the new list EDSTAT-L at Penn State using the web interface at http://lists.psu.edu/archives/edstat-l.html. ================================================================== . [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Robert Dole) wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>... > Bruce Weaver <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>... > > Neil wrote: > > > ... Q-Sort Analysis / Q-Methodology, (a type of Factor > > > Analysis), does someone know what the "Q" actually stands for? > > > > ... > > > > I initially thought Neil was talking about "Q-mode factor > > analysis", as did some other respondents. > > ------------------------------------------------------
Traditional factor analysis is also known as "r" factor analysis. Q-factor analysis uses factor analysis methods to group together similar people (or cases). The data is the same, but is turned sideways for the analysis. (That's a simplification, but I hope it makes the point.) Q Methodology (also known as just "Q") is a different technique which uses data collected from subjects sorted on a fixed, pseudonormal scale (also called a "q sort" or "forced sort"). Factor analysis is then performed on the sort data (using centroid factor analysis, rather than principle components) and those factors are rotated (often using graphic or judgmental rotation) for interpretability. The results of both Q-factor analysis and Q Methodology are groupings of people with similar characteristics or traits. For more info, see the QMethod web site: http://www.qmethod.org or notes from a recent presentation I made: http://projectsbyjoe.com/air2004 Also, a bibliography of issues related to Q is available at http://www.rz.unibw-muenchen.de/~p41bsmk/qmethod/syllabus00.pdf (I believe a more recent version of the bibliography is available. If someone is interested I will try to locate it.) If you are interested in Q I suggest you join the QMethod mailing list hosted and administered at Kent State by Steve Brown who studied under William Stephenson, the founder of Q. (Subscription instructions are available at the first URL.) Joe Jurczyk
