-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
1/29
Triangulations as a QualitativeResearch Strategy
Dr Saharnaz Nedjat
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
2/29
Goals For Today Why do we conduct Triangulation? Types of Triangulation
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
3/29
Definition Triangulation is an approach toresearch that uses a combination of
more than one research strategy in asingle investigation.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
4/29
Campbell and Fiske were the first to apply thenavigational term triangulation to research. Themetaphor is a good one because a phenomenonunder study in a qualitative research project ismuch like a ship at sea. The exact description ofthe phenomenon is unclear.
The goal in choosing different strategies in thesame study is to balance them so each
counterbalances the margin of error in the other.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
5/29
Choosing Triangulation as aResearch Strategy
Qualitative investigators may choosetriangulation as a research strategy
to assure completeness of findings orto confirm findings.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
6/29
assure completeness The most accurate description of theelephant comes from a combination
of all three individuals' descriptions.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
7/29
confirm findings Researchers might also choose triangulation toconfirm findings and conclusions. Any singlequalitative research strategy has its limitations.
By combining different strategies, researchers
confirm findings by overcoming the limitations ofa single strategy. Uncovering the same information from more than
one vantage point helps researchers describe howthe findings occurred under different
circumstances and assists them to confirm thevalidity of the findings.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
8/29
Goals For Today Why do we conduct Triangulation? Types of Triangulation
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
9/29
Types of Triangulation 1) Data Triangulation Time, space, person
2) Method Triangulation Design Data collection
3) Investigator Triangulation 4) Theory Triangulation Fifth type, multiple triangulation, which uses a
combination of two or more triangulationtechniques in one study.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
10/29
DATA TRIANGUIATION
Denzin (1989) described three typesof data triangulation: (1) time, (2)
space, and (3) person.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
11/29
Time triangulation time triangulation, researchers collectdata about a phenomenon at differentpoints in time.
Studies based on longitudinal designs arenot considered examples of datatriangulation for time because they are
intended to document changes over time.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
12/29
Space triangulation
Space triangulation consists of collectingdata at more than one site.
At the outset, the researcher mustidentify how time or space relate to thestudy and make an argument supportingthe use of different time or space
collection points in the study.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
13/29
By collecting data at different points intime and in different spaces, theresearcher gains a clearer and morecomplete description of decision makingand is able to differentiatecharacteristics that span time periods and
spaces from characteristics specific tocertain times and spaces.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
14/29
person triangulation Using person triangulation,researchers collect data from more
than one level of person, that is, aset of individuals, groups, orcollectives.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
15/29
Researchers might also discover datathat are dissimilar among levels. In
such a case, researchers wouldcollect additional data to resolve theincongruence.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
16/29
Types of Triangulation 1) Data Triangulation Time, space, person
2) Method Triangulation Design
Data collection
3) Investigator Triangulation 4) Theory Triangulation
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
17/29
METHODS TRIANGULATION
Methods triangulation can occur at thelevel of design or data collection.
Methods triangulation at the design levelhas also been called between-methodtriangulation and methods triangulation atthe data collection level has been called
within-method triangulation.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
18/29
Design Level Design methods triangulation most oftenuses quantitative methods combined withqualitative methods in the study design.
simultaneous implementation sequential implementation Theory should emerge from the qualitative
findings and should not be forced byresearchers into the theory they are usingfor the quantitative portion of the study.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
19/29
The blending of qualitative andquantitative approaches does not occurduring either data generation or analysis.
Rather, researchers blend theseapproaches at the level of interpretation,merging findings from each technique to
derive a consistent outcome.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
20/29
The process of merging findings "isan informed thought process,
involvingjudgment, wisdom,creativity, and insight and includesthe privilege of creating or modifyingtheory.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
21/29
lf contradictory findings emerge orresearchers find negative cases, the
investigators most likely will need tostudy the phenomenon further.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
22/29
Sometimes triangulation design methodmight use two different qualitativeresearch methods.
When researchers combine methods atthe design level, they should consider thepurpose of the research and make a logical
argument for using each method.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
23/29
methods triangulation at
the level of data collection Using methods triangulation at the level of datacollection, researchers use two differenttechniques of data collection, but each techniqueis within the same research tradition.
The purpose of combining the data collectionmethods is to provide a more holistic and betterunderstanding of the phenomenon under study.
It is not an easy task to use method triangulation;
it is often more time consuming and expensive tocomplete a study using methods triangulation.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
24/29
Types of Triangulation 1) Data Triangulation Time, space, person
2) Method Triangulation Design
Data collection
3) Investigator Triangulation 4) Theory Triangulation
E
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
25/29
INVESTIGATORTRIANGULATION
Investigator triangulation occurs when two or moreresearchers with divergent backgrounds and expertise worktogether on the same study. To achieve investigatortriangulation, multiple investigators each must haveprominent roles in the study and their areas of expertise
must be complementary. All the investigators discuss their individual findings andreach a conclusion, which includes all findings.
Having a second research expert examine a data set is notconsidered investigator triangulation.
Use of methods triangulation usually requires investigator
triangulation because few investigators are expert in morethan one research method.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
26/29
Types of Triangulation 1) Data Triangulation Time, space, person
2) Method Triangulation Design Data collection
3) Investigator Triangulation 4) Theory Triangulation
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
27/29
THEORY TRIANGULATION
Theory triangulation incorporates the use of morethan one lens or theory in the analysis of thesame data set.
In qualitative research, more than one theoreticalexplanation emerges from the data. Researchers investigate the utility and power of
these emerging theories by cycling between datageneration and data analysis until they reach a
conclusion.
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
28/29
Goals For Today Why do we conduct Triangulation? Types of Triangulation
-
8/2/2019 Triangulations as a Qualitative Research Strategy
29/29
Summary Triangulation can be a useful tool forqualitative as well as quantitative
researchers. Used with care, it contributes to thecompleteness and confirmation of
findings necessary in qualitativeresearch investigations.