Methods: The study used multiple methods, two-phase design based on Q-methodology. Phase one followed a qualitative approach which explored current literature on the topic and collected opinion statements from participants to build a concourse related to faculty caring. A concourse is the “discussion” surrounding the phenomenon under study. Results from four open-ended questions asked of pre-licensure nursing students on an online survey were used to create Q-statements, opinion statements, through an iterative, qualitative process. Phase two uses both a quantitative and qualitative approach and continues to determine consensus opinion as to what constitutes faculty caring, from the perspective of pre-licensure nursing students. A purposive, heterogeneous sample of the first and second year, currently enrolled pre-licensure undergraduate nursing students who have completed at least one semester of the nursing program were recruited. Participants were asked to complete a Q sort which included rank ordering 60 Q statements related to faculty caring as well as provide necessary demographic data. The quantitative component involves several statistical processes, which include by-person correlation, factor analysis, factor loading, and factor rotation. A statistical freeware program called PQMethod will be used to analyze the data. The qualitative component of this Q study is a constant comparative process in which similar and dissimilar viewpoints are explored related to the phenomena being studied. The researcher will, therefore, identify themes revealed by the factors, or shared viewpoints, of the participants. Also, generation of paragraph descriptions that help explain the subjectivity of the participants’ experience with the phenomena studied, as well as the creation of a model Q-sort that represents the overall themes for the study will occur.
Results: Currently phase one has been completed resulting in a generation of 233 opinion states reduced to 60 Q-statements after iterative comparison and use of two experts, one on qualitative methods, and one with masters in English. Phase two has been during spring semester 2019. Eleven Q-sorts have been collected with anticipation of 20-30 more Q-sorts to be collected in fall semester 2019. Data analysis will be completed after all Q-sorts have been collected and finalized prior to the conference.
Conclusion: Pending data analysis.