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Triangulation in Research

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' 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.

Triangulation in Social Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods Can Really Be Mixed

2004

For those who teach methodology within social science departments, notably sociology, the mixing of quantitative and qualitative methods presents an ongoing problem. 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. By reviewing three positions about this issue ('empiricist', constructionist, and realist) the chapter offers a review of the sociological approach now known as triangulation. The chapter refers to several empirical examples that illustrate the realist position and its strengths. The conclusion of the chapter is a more abstract review of the debate over pluralism in methodology. Triangulation, I argue, is not aimed merely at validation but at deepening and widening one's understanding. As a research aim, this one can be achieved either by a person or by a research team or group. Triangulation and pluralism both tend to support interdisciplinary researc...

Triangulation and Mixed Methods Research: Provocative Positions

Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 2012

Triangulation is a measurement technique often used by surveyors to locate an object in space by relying on two known points in order to ''triangulate'' on an unknown fixed point in that same space. Early on, social scientists borrowed the concept of triangulation to argue for its use in the validation process in assessing the veracity of social science research results. There are alternative perspectives on the use of triangulation that argue for its usefulness as a ''dialectical'' process whose goals seek a more in-depth nuanced understanding of research findings and clarifying disparate results by placing them in dialogue with one another.

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

Triangulation in social sciences swafdsa

For those who teach methodology within social science departments, notably sociology, the mixing of quantitative and qualitative methods presents an ongoing problem. 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. By reviewing three positions about this issue ('empiricist', constructionist, and realist) the chapter offers a review of the sociological approach now known as triangulation. The chapter refers to several empirical examples that illustrate the realist position and its strengths. The conclusion of the chapter is a more abstract review of the debate over pluralism in methodology. Triangulation, I argue, is not aimed merely at validation but at deepening and widening one's understanding. As a research aim, this one can be achieved either by a person or by a research team or group. Triangulation and pluralism both tend to support interdisciplinary research rather than a strongly bounded discipline of sociology.

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.