KenQ Analysis Desktop Edition (KADE) is a desktop application for the analysis of Q methodology data which operates with full functionality on Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, and Linux operating systems. It has a graphic user interface that makes it easy to use for students or for researchers with a background mainly in qualitative methods. Installation is not required for use; KADE is portable and can be run from a usb flash drive. It includes a variety of interactive visualization tools to explore and analyze Q methodological data.
KenQ Analysis Desktop Edition (KADE) is a desktop application for the analysis of Q methodology data which operates with full functionality on Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, and Linux operating systems. It has a graphic user interface that makes it easy to use for students or for researchers with a background mainly in qualitative methods. Installation is not required for use; KADE is portable and can be run from a usb flash drive. It includes a variety of interactive visualization tools to explore and analyze Q methodological data.
Change Log
Current version - v1.3.1 (released June 10, 2024).
Changes in this version include:
Added Netlify file import from EQ Web Sort
Added Sheets file import from EQ Web Sort
Previous version - v1.3.0 (released March 30, 2024).
Changes in this version include:
Added DOCX output option
Added input data book download
Added nine new user interface languages
Simplified Excel input file format
Updated help section content
Reference Guide
A reference guide and FAQs for each section are available here.
KADE and PQMethod
Comparisons of KADE and PQMethod results are available here.
Start to Finish Demonstration
4. Change permissions to executable. (Check "Allow this file to run as a program")
I have not been able to get the icons to package properly in the Linux AppImage, so the ugly default window icons are used now. I am working on a fix for this issue.
Click the "2. Data" navigation button and confirm that the data has loaded properly.
Click the "3. Correlations" navigation button.
Click the "Calculate Correlations" button.
Click the "4. Factors" navigation button.
Click the "Centroid Factors" button or "Principal Components" button.
Click the "5. Rotation" navigation button.
Click the dropdown select to choose the number of factors and then click "Submit".
Click the "Varimax" tab or the "Judgemental" tab.
For Varimax rotation, click the "Varimax Rotation" button.
For Judgmental rotation, click the "Initialize Judgmental Rotation" button. Then select two factor buttons and "Display". After rotation click the "Save Rotation" button to make the rotation permanent.
Click the "6. Loadings" navigation button.
Click the "Auto-Flag" button, or select participant loadings individually.
Click the "Send Table Data to Output".
Click the "7. Output" button, then click the "Options" tab.
Select the factors to output, then click "Submit".
Click the "Factor Characteristics", "Factors Table", or "Factor Visualizations" tabs to view analysis results.
Click the "Options" tab, then click the "Excel File" button or "CSV File" button to download the analysis results.
Netlify Data Import
The Netlify data importer is broken. Until I can fix it, this guide will show how to parse the Netlify data in MS Excel. After parsing the data, copy and paste the participant names ad Q sort data into the Type 2 Excel worksheet import format to load the data into KADE.
Installation Instructions - Microsoft Windows
I haven't certified the application with Microsoft, so it will give a warning on first start-up.
1. Double click the downloaded file.
2. In the Windows warning box, click the "More info" link in the text at the top of the warning box.
3. Click "Run Anyway"
Installation Instructions - Apple macOS
KADE can be installed following the normal process for macOS.
1. Double click the downloaded file.
2. Click and drag the KADE.app icon into the applications folder.
Version 1.2.0 is code signed and notarized by Apple, so there will be only one warning on the first startup after installation.
If you have changed your default settings, you may get this warning:
In this case, to open KADE you will need to reset your security settings to the defaults:
1. Open "System Preferences"
2. Click "Security & Privacy"
3. Click "General"
4. Click the lock in the bottom left and enter your password
5. Under "Allow apps downloaded from:", select "App Store and identified developers"
Installation Instructions - Linux
The application is packaged as an "AppImage" so it can be installed on most of the major distributions (Ubuntu, Mint, MXLinux, Debian, openSUSE, RHEL, CentOS, Fedora, etc.) On some distributions it will offer to install the software.
After downloading, you will need to change the file permissions of the downloaded file.
Right click on the downloaded file.
Select "Properties".
Select "Permissions". (Example image from debian-based "MXLinux")
Known Issue:
Updates
I have not integrated automatic updating functions into the application. To update you need to uninstall the old version, then download and install the new version.
Uninstallation Instructions
In Windows, click the "Start" button, then click "Settings", "Apps", "KADE", and select "uninstall"
In macOS, use Finder to go to the "applications" folder and delete the KADE application
In Linux, locate the AppImage file of the old version and delete it.
Contributions and Problems
If you discover a problem with the software or want to make a feature request, send an email to ken.q.tools@gmail.com.
User Interface Translators Welcomed!
If you would like to volunteer to translate the user interface (about 400 words and phrases) into another language, please contact me at ken.q.tools@gmail.com
Thanks to Nicolás Medina Silva for the Spanish translation!
Attribution
Banasick, (2019). KADE: A desktop application for Q methodology. Journal of Open Source Software, 4(36), 1360, https://doi.org/10.21105/joss.01360
