Using Q Methodology, a Group of Neurodivergent Neurodiversity Researchers Ask: What is the Neurodiversity Movement and what should it do?

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Stenner, P., Pearson, A., Kapp, S. K., Watson, C. L., Pressler, R., Williams, G., Bertilsdotter Rosqvist, H., Hultman, L., Semmens-Wheeler, R., & Botha, M. (2025). Using Q Methodology, a Group of Neurodivergent Neurodiversity Researchers Ask: What is the Neurodiversity Movement and what should it do? Neurodiversity, 3. https://doi.org/10.1177/27546330251329625

Publication date: 1 May 2025 Added to AutiHub: 4 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) OpenAlex source

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Authors

Publication authors
10
Publication authors identified as autistic
5 / 10 (50.0%)
  1. Paul Stenner
  2. Amy Pearson *
  3. Steven K. Kapp *
  4. C. L. Watson
  5. Ronit Pressler
  1. Gemma Williams *
  2. Hannah Bertilsdotter Rosqvist *
  3. Lill Hultman
  4. Rebecca Semmens-Wheeler
  5. Monique Botha *

Abstract

This paper describes the eight phases of an innovative procedure for collective and reflexive research about neurodiversity. Structured by Q methodology, this procedure allowed a small group ( n = 10) of neurodivergent researchers to identify and discuss our different viewpoints on what neurodiversity means (three viewpoints) and aims for (three viewpoints). The rigour of the procedure was underpinned by the use of Q items collectively self-generated by the group, individual Q sorting of these items to render ‘operant’ each member's viewpoint, Q factor analysis to compare and group these data quantitatively, and group discussion to interpret these factors and to discuss the implications of our differences for the practical future of the neurodiversity movement. The significance of this procedure is that it provides a new way for neurodivergent neurodiversity researchers to collaborate in surfacing and understanding differences and similarities in their views on what the neurodiversity movement is and what it should aim to do. There is a growing focus on neurodiversity across society and it is important to appreciate diversity to avoid misunderstandings around concepts and aims. The variation in viewpoint here demonstrated can inspire future research and help shape the basis for the theoretical discussion informing the movement going forwards.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 2 Oct 2026 01:39.

Cited references
60
With a DOI
35
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
24
21 / 60 (35.0%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
10 / 60 (16.7%)
References with detected author names
51 / 60 (85.0%)
Without detected author names
9
Without a structured title
10
Without a stable identifier
23
References with raw author names still to review
9
References with external metadata lookup issues
1
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
118
From DOI or external metadata
117
From validated raw bibliography text
1
Raw names already validated
1
Raw names still to review
9
88 / 118 (74.6%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 30 / 118 (25.4%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
38 / 118 (32.2%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 38 / 88 (43.2%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 26 / 97 (26.8%).
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