build.q.set: Q methodology: sample a Q set from a concourse

In qmethod: Analysis of Subjective Perspectives Using Q Methodology

Q methodology: sample a Q set from a concourse

Description

Subsets a concourse of items into a sample of selected items. Returns a dataframe with handles as row names, and languages (if applicable) as columns.

Usage

build.q.set(q.concourse, q.sample, q.distribution)

Arguments

q.concourse	A matrix with handles as row names, (optional) languages as columns, and full item wordings in cells as produced by import.q.concourse.
q.sample	A character vector of handles (such as q-is-great). The items identified by the handles will be sampled.
q.distribution	The chosen Q distribution as a vector of integers, such as c(1,3,1).

Details

Q studies are carried out letting participants rank a sample of statements (items), collectively referred to as the Q set. These Q sets are drawn (by some sampling strategy) from a concourse, or universe of items. This function subsets the concourse generated by import.q.concourse, based on a vector of handles provided, and returns it as q.set.

The function implements a number of tests on the validity and consistency of inputs.

If you are not familiar with the terminology of item handle, ID and wording or the file structure expected for import functions, please read the respective sections in the documentation for qmethod-package first or consider the package website.

Value

Returns a matrix with handles as row names, languages (if applicable) as column names and full item wordings in cells.

Note

This function currently does not actually draw a sample, but merely builds the Q set from a given sample.

This function currently requires input in the argument q.distribution, but it only checks for the sum, so if you are working with a distribution-free study that still has a fixed number of items, you can just enter a vector of length 1 with your total sum of items.

Author(s)

Maximilian Held

See Also

import.q.concourse, import.q.feedback, import.q.sorts, make.cards

Examples

# Build a Q Set from a concourse and a sample
data(importexample)
q.set <- build.q.set(
  q.concourse = importexample$q.concourse,  # as created by import.q.concourse
  q.sample = c("life-with-q","q-uprising","r-dominance","small-village"),
  # add vector with items to be selected from concourse
  # q.sample is ideally read in from a separate *.CSV file
  q.distribution = c(1,2,1) # very simple distribution
  )

qmethod documentation built on April 1, 2023, 12:18 a.m.