Measuring Collective Identities with Q-Methodology

Collective identities can be defined as symbol systems and symbolic contents related to a ‘collective’ or an imagined group. The collective is defined through the shared symbolic space. Collective identities refer to a specific field of meaning. Recently, several researchers turned to Q-methodology for the analysis of identities. Essential for Q-methodology is the idea of relatedness and interconnectedness of thematically defined statements; a basic assumption of Q-methodology is that meaning depends on patterned relations. Q-methodology is designed for the exploration of subjective opinions and attitudes of a participant group. Subjective opinions are important for the method. But, what makes the method specific is its focus on opinion patterns. Q-methodology has been used in three explorative and comparative projects to uncover patterns of European identities among lay persons with promising results.