40th Annual Q-Methodology Conference Reflection

Please note: There are many things that I could have written about the 40th Annual Q Methodology Conference, so if you would like more information, please send a message. This article briefly reflects on my engagements with other academics and my tour around Kent.? Here are four of my biggest takeaways from the conference.

1. Exchanging Ideas

I have attended a few academic events, but nothing comes close to what I witnessed at the Q-methodology conference. The occasion was a cultural convergence of unique perspectives, research topics, and storytelling. Every Monday at 4:00 pm East Standard Time (10 pm in South Africa), there are Zoom Q seminars where academics from across the globe discuss their Q methodology studies. It was my first time seeing some of them in person, which was superb. We exchanged emails, LinkedIn profiles, and business cards, which marked the beginning of long-term research collaborations, which I am excited about.

2. Open Community

Before the conference, I was extremely nervous about presenting my master's research findings (since it was my first time using Q-methodology). However, there was nothing to fear because it was a safe space to share my study’s results. The reception of my presentation was good, and some people motivated me to write a manuscript to publish in Operant Subjectivity (which I am actively working on).

3.??Humble Academics

It was my first time meeting some of Q methodology’s seminal scholars, such as Susan Ramlo , Diane Montgomery and many more. But most of all, I had the privilege of meeting Steven Brown, one of the prominent scholars of Q methodology. I always find it interesting to meet people I read about and cite in my academic work. All the scholars that I met were so humble and approachable. There was no intellectual elitism or hierarchical positioning; these scholars were respectful and happy to converse with novice and experienced researchers. They reminded me of my supervisor, Roela Hattingh , and many other fantastic lecturers from the University of Johannesburg’s Department of Strategic Communication.

4.?Motivation

Even though preparing for the conference involved a lot of hard work, it was all worth it. I was inspired by all the presentations that I watched. I learned so much about other topics, such as Newlin Humphrey 's study about the perspectives of Gen Z agricultural students and graduates toward engaging in controversial conversations. Tong Li , Lu Ding and Hua Zheng’s study on using Q methodology to measure shifts in implicit theories of creativity among undergraduates participating in a magic program was eye-opening, and Lindsey Te Ata o Tū MacDonald and Deb Te Kawa’s study on Māori political authority showed me how Q methodology accommodates diverse disciplines. Many other exciting presentations occurred during the conference. Unfortunately, I cannot mention all of them in this article (because I could go on forever), but I look forward to reading upcoming publications about them.

Lastly, I left the conference feeling energised and inspired to write manuscripts about my master's study, which I will submit to one or two journals soon (stay tuned for more).