A metodologia Q na investigação em enfermagem: fundamentos, adequação e oportunidades

Introduction: The Q methodology seeks to explore and understand the richness of subjective human phenomena. As a method, it's mixed and brings together the strengths of the qualitative and quantitative dimensions, using a distinct set of psychometric and operational principles. Objective: To explore and to describe the Q methodology, as well as to contextualize and discuss its utilization and its adequacy for the investigation in nursing, especially in the study of subjective phenomena. Materials and Methods: It is a theoretical-reflexive study, based on the scientific literature and on the critical analysis of the authors. Results: Methodology with wide application in different contexts, from the hospital environment, nursing education, primary health care, public health and nursing homecare. It allows to study simultaneously several types of participants, knowing the subjective perspective of the different intervenient. Conclusion: The Q methodology has been used in nursing research at an international level to study subjective phenomena in different contexts. It is a type of methodology that allows the integration of qualitative and quantitative procedures, facilitating the understanding of subjective human responses regarding the health/disease process.