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Q methodology

This question type implements Q methodology. To configure it, first create a matrix with radio-type columns. Then, in the Q question configuration, map the matrix answers to the bins presented in the Q model. Below is an image showing how this question is displayed:

Note: In this interface, the user can move yellow cards to the bottom of the stack by clicking on them, and cards can be dragged from any position to any other position.

Configuration:

As an example, first configure a matrix where the user selects items they agree with, disagree with, or feel neutral about. The answer titles in the matrix should match the bin labels in the Q model question.

The Q model question requires the following configuration:

  • Matrix Segmentation Question: The source matrix configured previously.
  • Rows: Number of rows in the pyramid.
  • Columns: Number of columns in the pyramid.
  • Direction of the matrix: Accepted values are "up" or "down," depending on the desired display orientation.
  • Literal bags: Titles for the source bins where items are initially presented for the user to move into the pyramid. Example: En desacuerdo;Neutras;De acuerdo
  • Literal columns: Text displayed in the pink rectangles. Example: ; ; ; ; ; ;
  • Detailed column literal: Text displayed below the pink rectangles. Example: Muy en desacuerdo;;;Ni de acuerdo ni en desacuerdo;;;Muy de acuerdo
  • Source of the bags: This important configuration links matrix columns to Q model bins. For example, 1,2;3;4,5 means that matrix items selected as answer 1 or 2 go to the first bin, items selected as answer 3 go to the second bin, and items selected as answer 4 or 5 go to the third bin.

To omit a label, simply leave it as a space.

After saving the configuration, a pyramid based on the specified rows and columns appears, where you need to set the items for each column. The configuration will look like the following image:

For interpreting the report related to this question type, consult the "Info qModel" Excel tab.

Visual Results Dashboard

Q Model questions include an integrated visual results dashboard, accessible by clicking the grid icon in the question listing. The dashboard offers three analysis modes:

Consensus Pyramid: Shows an aggregate view of where all respondents placed each card on average. Cards are color-coded by consensus level: - Green (High consensus, σ < 1.3): Most respondents placed the card in the same position. - Yellow (Medium, σ 1.3–1.5): Some variation in placement. - Red (Low/Polarized, σ > 1.5): Respondents disagree significantly about this card.

Hover over any card to see its exact mean position, standard deviation, and number of respondents.

Card Distribution: Click any card from the left panel to see a horizontal bar chart showing how respondents distributed that card across all columns. The list is sorted by consensus level, making it easy to identify the most agreed-upon and most polarized items.

Factor Analysis: Runs a Q-Methodology factor analysis using R (requires the qmethod R package). This identifies groups of respondents who share similar viewpoints: 1. Select the number of factors (or use Auto to let the system decide based on Kaiser criterion). 2. Click "Run Analysis" — the system samples up to 800 respondents, computes correlations, extracts factors via PCA with varimax rotation, and identifies distinguishing and consensus statements. 3. Results show factor profiles (Q-score pyramids per factor), the number of respondents per factor, and variance explained. 4. The Statements Analysis tabs show consensus statements (items all groups agree on) and distinguishing statements per factor (items that differentiate each group). 5. Click "Generate Interpreted Report" to produce a Word document (.docx) with an AI-generated interpretation of the results, including factor profile images and data tables.

The dashboard counter, the Factor Analysis and the Interpreted Report all consider only respondents who completed the entire survey (status Done). Pyramid placements from respondents who finished the Q Model question but later abandoned the survey are excluded so that statistics and factor groupings are not distorted by partial data.

Respondent filter bar: Above the dashboard there is a collapsible Respondent filters bar that lets you segment the analysis by demographic or screening answers (e.g. age range, region, gender, study group). Pick one or more filterable questions, choose the values you want to keep, and press Apply. The Consensus Pyramid, the Card Distribution and the Factor Analysis all recompute on the matching subset, and the stats card updates to show how many respondents are included. Clear all restores the full Done dataset. Whenever you change the filter the previous Factor Analysis results are cleared so you re-run the analysis on the new subset, and the Interpreted Report (Word) generated afterwards describes the same filtered subset. Available filter questions: radio, checkbox, single-choice and predefined-list (listaValores) demographic items.

Definitions: - Columna (Column): Matrix column index. - Fila (Row): Matrix row index. Note: Rows are numbered from bottom to top.