Q and you: The application of Q methodology in recreation research

Whitney Ward

Treesearch

Q and you: The application of Q methodology in recreation research

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Whitney Ward

Year:

2010

Type:

General Technical Report - Proceedings

Station:

Northern Research Station

Source:

In: Watts, Clifton E., Jr.; Fisher, Cherie LeBlanc, eds. Proceedings of the 2009 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-66. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 75-80.

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Abstract

Researchers have used various qualitative and quantitative methods to deal with subjectivity in studying people's recreation experiences. Q methodology has been the most effective approach for analyzing both qualitative and quantitative aspects of experience, including attitudes or perceptions. The method is composed of two main components--Q sorting and Q factor analysis--and allows for the simultaneous study of objective and subjective issues. This paper describes Q methods and terminology, past uses of Q in various fields of research, and the pros and cons of applying Q in research on recreation experiences.

Parent Publication

Proceedings of the 2009 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium

Citation

Ward, Whitney. 2010. Q and you: The application of Q nethodology in recreation research. In: Watts, Clifton E., Jr.; Fisher, Cherie LeBlanc, eds. Proceedings of the 2009 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-66. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 75-80.