Practical Issues of Conducting a Q Methodology Study: Lessons Learned From a Cross-cultural Study

Discourses on the adoption of the Barsha pump: A Q methodology study in Nepal and Indonesia

Improved water management is an important strategy to support smallholder farming, and thus to foster food security and improved livelihoods. Within this strategy, technologies like water pumps, especially those operating on renewable energies, are key, as they are more environmentally sound and affordable alternatives. Their successful and sustained uptake is a complex process—largely dependent on the adopter and its surrounding context—usually overlooked by traditional linear technology-transfer approaches. By means of Q methodology, we explored cross-cultural discourses around the adoption of the Barsha pump (BP), a self-reliant hydro-mechanical device that does not require any external input than flowing water to operate. We administered the method to 43 (non-)farmer respondents linked to Nepali and Indonesian smallholder farming systems. We identified three relevant discourses, one of them bipolar in nature. These three groups accounted for 39, 36, and 28% of the total explained variance of our study. The first one identified BP's potential early adopters. The second discourse embodied the (stereotypical) highly dependent smallholder. The last one characterized (contrasting) views around the BP as an enabler of potential service-oriented business models to achieve wellbeing. These results reflect the need for a shift of mindset toward new ways of understanding technological change in smallholder settings. On the one side, simplistic one-size-fits-all models cannot connect to the diversity of issues and opinions as we found. On the other side, it is virtually impossible to produce tailored solutions to satisfy each of those individual realities. We propose possible adoption pathways that may lead to the exploration of innovative and adaptable business models that serve the diversity of smallholder farming needs more effectively.

A scoping review of Q methodology nursing education studies

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this review was to examine the characteristics of published Q methodology nursing education studies including the purposes, the methodological variations, and the major implications to inform best practices.

DESIGN

Scoping review design using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews Extension for Scoping Reviews.

DATA SOURCES

Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Complete, Education Research Complete, Embase, ERIC, Proquest Nursing and Allied Health, PubMed, PsycInfo, SocINDEX, and the Web of Science Core Collection.

REVIEW METHODS

A comprehensive search of English language journal articles was conducted for Q methodology studies published between 2015 and 2020 that used undergraduate nursing students or nursing faculty as participants. Data were extracted using a modified version of the Assessment Review Instrument for Q Methodology.

RESULTS

Eighteen studies from five countries met inclusion criteria. The majority were single-site studies and used nursing students as participants. The number of stimuli for sorting in the Q sample ranged from 21 to 60. Study aims fell into three broad domains: attitudes about patient populations or settings (N = 7), perceptions about teaching methods (N = 9), or beliefs about professional/practice issues (N = 2). Seven studies specifically explored simulation. Unique viewpoints discovered ranged from one to five in each study. Findings were used to inform teaching, create curricula, evaluate programs, and to generate more questions for study. Strategies for reporting the Q methodology research steps and findings varied significantly.

CONCLUSION

Q methodology is a useful research approach to discover variations in perspectives to inform best educational practices. Use of a standardized flow sheet could enhance reporting the Q methodological approach which may lead to a better understanding and acceptance of the method in the discipline.

Viewpoints on Undergraduate Research Among Nursing Students Conducting Q-Methodology Studies

BACKGROUND

This article describes using Q-methodology to evaluate changes in attitudes about research among baccalaureate nursing students conducting Q-methodology studies as part of an undergraduate honors research program.

METHOD

Five senior students, who had designed Q-methodology studies, sorted 36 opinion statements about undergraduate research based on two conditions of instruction: (a) according to their current attitudes, and (b) according to their beliefs before they began the honors program.

RESULTS

A two-factor final solution explained 70% of the variance. The Getting Ahead section of the study, associated with six sorting grids, also known as sorts, reflected positive beliefs about the professional benefits of engaging in undergraduate research. The Too Much Effort theme reflected beliefs held by three participants prior to engaging in the program.

CONCLUSION

After engaging in an undergraduate research honors program where participants designed a Q-methodology study, this group of students reported gaining intellectual and practical skills and no longer found research to be as intimidating. [J Nurs Educ. 2021;60(2):96-98.].

Fibromyalgia Pain and Fatigue Symptoms in Spanish and U.S. Men

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a chronic centralized pain disorder characterized by widespread pain and fatigue. Of those affected by FMS, the majority are women, and minimal research exists involving men. The purpose of this paper is to describe the pain and fatigue experiences of men with FMS from two Western countries, Spain and the United States, in order to support more accurate and earlier recognition and diagnosis in men.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We used individual and focus group interviews with qualitative and quantitative assessments.

SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS/SUBJECTS

Ten men in Spain and seven men in the United States provided information about their symptoms, psychosocial and health-seeking behaviors, and gender experiences with FMS.

RESULTS

Men articulated types, trends, and triggers of pain and fatigue that enrich an understanding of their symptoms. For example, men report more localized pain than generalized pain. Employment status and activities, among other contextual factors, impacted men's pain and fatigue experiences.

CONCLUSIONS

Men experience distinct facets of pain and fatigue compared with women, with notable similarities and differences across the Spanish and U.S.

SAMPLES

Cross-cultural comparisons highlight contextual factors that may inspire future inquiries about determinants of men's experiences with FMS.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The present study could be useful for anyone treating men suffering from FMS, especially care providers in nursing, medical, and psychology fields. These initial findings may prompt a closer examination of recommendations for assessment and diagnostic criteria used internationally for patients with FMS with better recognition of men's experience.

African American women leadership across contexts

Purpose

This paper aims to examine women leaders from diverse career backgrounds and ethnicities to discover their perspectives of their leadership roles and empowerment to determine similarities and differences among them, focusing on the perspectives of African American women.

Design/methodology/approach

The review process began with a comprehensive review of African American women in history in the context of leadership and empowerment. Next, a Q-sort methodology was used as a semi-qualitative approach for women leaders to rank words of empowerment and facilitate discussions among these women. The Q methodology is known for exploring issues that are correlated with individuals who are influenced with personal feelings and opinions.

Findings

The paper concludes that perceptions of leadership roles differ among the African American women leaders when compared to other ethnicities. The results support the idea that women from diverse ethnic backgrounds have different experiences in the workplace, and these experiences influence how they identify factors they perceive as beneficial to them in terms of their perspectives on leadership and empowerment. Several themes emerged for African American women leaders including being overlooked, marginalized, undervalued and unappreciated in their professions as leaders due to their dual minority status. As it is now as it was in the past, such barriers can deter or stop progression for African American women leaders.

Originality/value

The history of African American women in leadership roles is scantily recognized or not recognized at all. This paper highlights leadership roles and barriers for African American women currently in leadership roles in contrast to other women. The issues they face are still similar to those faced by African American women in earlier decades in spite of increased career mobility. A relatively understudied topic in leadership and management history in general, this paper provides a unique lens from which to build awareness about the leadership roles and empowerment of African American women and to effect needed change.

Health Beliefs of Nurses in Northern Thailand: A Q-Methodology Study

Introduction: Northern Thailand has a distinct culture and set of health beliefs. Nurses' beliefs influence approaches to care affecting health care outcomes. This study explored the content, origin, and sociocultural influences on health beliefs of Northern Thai nurses and how they influence clinical practice and education. Method: Q-methodology was used in this study. Data were collected with interviews using Q-cards, Q-sort distribution board, and a semistructured interview guide. Results: Data were collected from 30 clinical nurses and 30 nurses working in academia. Q-factor analysis produced three factors accounting for 48% of variance: personal experience, Thai and Buddhist beliefs, and contemporary beliefs. Discussion: Participants who felt strongly rooted in their culture and beliefs were homogeneous in recognizing the need for evidence-based practice. Nurses aware of the nature and sources of their beliefs and those of patients are well-placed to balance maintenance of cultural traditions with the need to provide evidence-based practice.