Young children’s participation in a Q study with visual images: Some comments on reliability and validity

Abstract

In this study we discuss various aspects of the participation of young children as informants in research relating to their own adjustment and behavior. We ask whether it is meaningful to include young children as participants in this kind of research, and if Q methodology using visual images is a suitable research method that may give reliable and valid results. An example is given through a study of 20 children aged five. The conclusion is that this may be a suitable approach, and that there are indications that the results are both reliable and valid. However, more research is needed to explore the usefulness of Q methodology with visual images in studies of very young children.