Comments on Professor Howard's Quest-Sort

Abstract

The Quest-Sort modification of Q technique is examined in historical context and is shown to have several predecessors, which are criticized for their overemphasis on technicalities at the expense of methodological considerations. Attention is also drawn to the foundations of measurement in Q method and to Stephenson's replacement of classical psychophysics with Fisher's experimental principles. Questions are raised about various of Professor Howard's assumptions about Q methodology.