William Stephenson (1902-1989) was a British-American psychologist best known for developing Q methodology. This method is a technique used to study subjectivity, typically in human sciences.
Stephenson received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Durham and a second doctorate in psychology from the University of London. Early in his career, he worked in the fields of psychometrics and experimental psychology, influenced by Charles Spearman.
His major contribution, Q methodology, involves individuals (the "P-sample") sorting a set of statements or items (the "Q-sample") according to their subjective perspectives, attitudes, or feelings about a topic. This allows for the identification of distinct viewpoints or types of people based on their ranking patterns. The data are then typically factor analyzed to reveal underlying commonalities in viewpoints.
Q methodology contrasts with traditional R methodology, which seeks to identify correlations between variables across a population. Stephenson argued that Q methodology focuses on identifying patterns of subjectivity within individuals, rather than generalizing across populations.
Stephenson's ideas were initially met with some skepticism within the psychological community. However, Q methodology has since been applied in a variety of fields, including political science, communication studies, health sciences, and environmental studies, to investigate subjective experiences, opinions, and values.
Key publications include The Study of Behavior: Q-Technique and Its Methodology (1953) and The Play Theory of Communication (1967). His work continues to influence researchers interested in exploring subjectivity and understanding diverse perspectives.