If a survey for a particular research question, is being analysed on the basis of both quantitative and qualitative methods , can the research method be categorised as data triangulation?
Claudia is correct. You can't have triangulation within the same tool. Usually, surveys are quantitative (using closed questions, Likert etc) and may ask a few open questions for added 'context'. That doesn't then make those open questions qualitative though. Similarly, for mixed methods - a single tool that uses closed and open questions, on its own, cannot be classified as mixed methods.
I disagree with Claudia and Dean, because triangulation is about comparing the results from different kinds of data, and closed-ended questions produce quantitative data while open-ended questions produce qualitative data. So, if your data are rich enough to produce both quantitative and and qualitative results, then triangulation should be possible.
A different problem, however, is that triangulation requires you to collect the two sources of data independently, so that one form of data collection does not influence the other. That would be difficult to do within a single survey questionnaire.
As an alternative, you might consider an Explanatory Sequential design (QUANT --> qual). In that case, you would first determine the quantitative results, and then use the qualitative data to further understand those results. Of course, that would require you to design your open-ended questions so that they could serve this specific purpose.
Manisha - Mixed method research or the use of multiple methods for assessing the validity and reliability of research data have been called between-method or cross- method triangulation. The aim of triangulation is to obtain accuracy in measurement between two points for which you require a way of measuring that is reliable.The theory of triangulation provides some degree of control over the accuracy of the data. There are two types of triangulation, namely, methodological triangulation and theoretical triangulation. 'Methodological triangulation' refers to the way different methods are used in the research process, and 'Theoretical triangulation' is the way various theoretical perspectives are used. Validity and reliability concerns in a mixed method research design need thorough and careful explanations because the objectivity of qualitative research is evaluated in terms of the reliability and validity of its observations. By mixed method research approach, there is possibility to conduct both the qualitative and quantitative research e.g., single subject case study.
Thank you everyone for your valuable inputs. Highly appreciate
How can you differentiate between a questionaire and structured observation guide?
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