title: A case for the use of Q-methodology in disability research: lessons learned from a training workshop.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Q-methodology was developed to analyse subjective responses to a range of items dealing with specific topics. This article describes the use of Q-methodology and presents the results of a Q-study on perspectives on disability carried out in a training workshop as evidence for its usefulness in disability research.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Q-sort was administered in the context of a training workshop on Q-method. The Q-sort consisted of statements related to the topic of disability. The responses were analysed using specifically developed software to identify factors that represent patterns of responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two of the 23 respondents loaded on four factors. These factors appeared to represent different paradigms relating to the social, medical and disability rights models of disability. The fourth factor appeared to be that of a family perspective. These are all models evident in the disability research literature and provide evidence for the validity of Q-method in disability research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on this opportunistic study, it would appear that Q-methodology is a useful tool for identifying different view points related to disability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa. jmjudymckenzie2@gmail.com
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Bob
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Braswell
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jelsma
authors.forename: Nirmala
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naidoo
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D011779:Q-Sort; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D013019:South Africa