The Influence of Triangulation (original) (raw)
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Research triangulation, over the years, has gained much popularity as researchers become more sophisticated in generating and testing theories. Indeed of what use is research whose findings are unreliable and invalid? Answers to research questions are expected to be as close as they possibly can to the reality if they cannot be perfectly accurate. Researchers find a way of producing reliable results by making use of research triangulation. This paper seeks to identify advantages that come with a researcher making use of research triangulation in a study. According to Noble and Heale (2019), research triangulation refers to the process that helps to increase the credibility and validity of research. In other words, research triangulation basically aims at validating the results of a study. Triangulation, sometimes, makes use of mixed methods to achieve the aim of validating research findings. However, triangulation is not the same as mixed methods. Mixed methods basically combine quantitative and qualitative research approaches in getting research questions answered; while triangulation describes how the researcher makes use of all the multiple approaches in the study to extract the required information as well as critically analysing findings (Social Sciences Research Laboratories, 2018); thus establishing validity and credibility. Validity in research basically establishes how correctly a particular approach measures something and how closely findings are to actual values or concepts being examined (Noble & Heale, 2019). It indicates whether findings from a particular research can be trusted. Achieving validity is very important to ensure that findings from a research can be correctly used and interpreted in such a way that stakeholders of the study are able to make informed
Academia Letters, 2021
Research triangulation, over the years, has gained much popularity as researchers become more sophisticated in generating and testing theories. Indeed of what use is research whose findings are unreliable and invalid? Answers to research questions are expected to be as close as they possibly can to the reality if they cannot be perfectly accurate. Researchers find a way of producing reliable results by making use of research triangulation. This paper seeks to identify advantages that come with a researcher making use of research triangulation in a study. According to Noble and Heale (2019), research triangulation refers to the process that helps to increase the credibility and validity of research. In other words, research triangulation basically aims at validating the results of a study. Triangulation, sometimes, makes use of mixed methods to achieve the aim of validating research findings. However, triangulation is not the same as mixed methods. Mixed methods basically combine quantitative and qualitative research approaches in getting research questions answered; while triangulation describes how the researcher makes use of all the multiple approaches in the study to extract the required information as well as critically analysing findings (Social Sciences Research Laboratories, 2018); thus establishing validity and credibility. Validity in research basically establishes how correctly a particular approach measures something and how closely findings are to actual values or concepts being examined (Noble & Heale, 2019). It indicates whether findings from a particular research can be trusted. Achieving validity is very important to ensure that findings from a research can be correctly used and interpreted in such a way that stakeholders of the study are able to make informed
TRIANGULATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO ENHANCE THE VALIDITY OF A CASE STUDY
Triangulation involves using multiple data sources in an investigation to produce understanding. Triangulation in sociological research is the use of three or more contrasting methods in a study to produce three different sets or even types of data. Its purpose is to reduce the weight given to any individual set of results. 'Triangulation' can also be achieved by using different research techniques. Triangulated techniques are helpful for cross-checking and used to provide confirmation and completeness, which brings 'balance' between two or more different types of research. The purpose is to increase the credibility and validity of the results. Often this purpose in specific contexts is to obtain confirmation of findings through convergence of different perspectives. There are various types of triangulation which can be done at various stage of the research. It has got lot of relevance in case study as it is believed that its lacks in objectivity.Case studies has various advantages, in that they present data of real-life situations and they provide better insights into the detailed behaviors of the subjects of interest, they are also criticized for their inability to generalize their results. Thus triangulation can help to overcome its disadvantages. It helps to increase its construct validity
ADVANTATGES OF RESEARCH TRIANGULATION
2022
Research triangulation is a paramount approach that has indisputable advantages in the struggle of producing valid, reliable, balanced, and generalizable research results. Thurmond (2001) puts it right that “Many researchers strive to design studies that will not only give a multidimensional perspective of the phenomenon but will also provide rich, unbiased data that can be interpreted with a comfortable degree of assurance”, here credit and gratitude goes to research triangulation approach. However, the research must be aware of where, how and when to apply certain research method mixes and their respective limitations should be identified and addressed for better results.
'Triangulation' Research Method as the Tool of Social Science Research
This article discusses 'triangulation' as a strategy for increasing the validity of evaluation and research findings. Triangulation is used to combine the advantages of both the qualitative and the quantitative approach. Each method offers specific advantages as well as disadvantages. Recent developments in the philosophy of science have argued that the two traditions should not have a separate-but-equal status, and should instead interact. Triangulation is not aimed merely at validation but at deepening and widening one's understanding, and tends to support interdisciplinary research rather than a strongly bounded discipline of sociology or anthropology.
Tshidi M Wyllie, 2019
There controversies surrounding Triangulation as an approach to research, despite the controversial debates that have been ongoing for decades pertaining to the qualitative-quantitative dichotomy; multi-method and/or mixed method or triangulation as some researchers choose to call it. The debate mostly surround the issue of whether or not to triangulate research methods, data, strategies and/or approaches. As long as learning is a continued process and evolves with time, and is as diverse as are researchers and scholars in different fields of study, the debate is bound to equally become complex and possibly still continue. However, this paper however chooses not to pursue the controversies but rather to focus on the power and/or the benefits of triangulation.
Mixed Methods Research: The Hidden Cracks of the Triangulation Design
Creswell (2009) demystifies Mixed Methods Research by coming up with the Triangulation Design in which the definition of the term triangulation is provided, when to triangulate, data collection procedures, data analysis procedures, the various variants or models and also the strengths and weaknesses of the design. However, there is need to tell how one can tell one type of triangulation from another when using the various models as they do not show when different researchers maybe involved in the collection and analysis of data, when different instruments maybe used or different theories in the interpretation of different phenomena while triangulating. It is also lacking depth in its explanation of the collection, analysis, transformation and interpretation of data when using the models. One needs to clearly get how different one model is from another by looking at the omitted unique aspects in the collection, analysis, transformation and interpretation of data using each of these models. It is also important to indicate that it is costly in time and money to use the Triangulation Design in a study. This paper therefore seeks to point out the aforementioned flaws in Creswell (2009) and expose gaps that future studies can fill for it will be difficult to assess the validity and reliability of the findings if they apply the Design without these critical details. Key Words: Mixed Methods, Triangulations, Cracks, Models