Interviewed, but When and How? A Methodological Review of the Qualitative Side of Q Methodology in Applied Linguistics

With the rapid rise of Q methodology across a range of disciplines in recent decades, an increasing number of researchers have embraced this innovative approach to reveal individuals’ opinions and beliefs as expressions of subjectivity, which has been greatly supported by the qualitative dimension embedded in the method. This makes Q particularly well-suited to applied linguistics (AL) as a branch of educational research, where participants’ perspectives often shape the core of the investigation. Yet, despite its growing use, the qualitative side of Q has received limited attention in the literature, and no clear framework currently guide Q researchers in how to plan, conduct, and transparently report this aspect. In this methodological review, we sought to examine ۵۵ empirical Q studies in AL published in various journals over the past five years (۲۰۱۹–۲۰۲۴). We extracted the qualitative components and analyzed the interview features across three phases of the Q process, namely, pre-sorting, while-sorting, and post-sorting. It was discovered that to handle interviews in Q, a variety of methodological choices are practiced, with different frequencies. However, a considerable number of qualitative details were missing in the reports, particularly concerning post-sorting phase in general and interview approach in particular. The current study contributes to the ongoing discussion of qualitative practices in Q methodology as well as the broader discourse on transparency in qualitative research. Ultimately, we offer a practical checklist (CHIP-Q) to support the systematic planning and transparent reporting of qualitative phases in Q studies.

کلیدواژه ها:

Applied linguistics ، interview features ، methodological review ، Q methodology ، qualitative phase