In triangulation we can use morethan one method to understand the phenomene very well .There are different methods in triangulation like Investigator triangulation, theory triangulation, methodological triangulation, environmental triangulation all have different purpose to check the validity and see the difference of opinion about the phenomena.Recently I have triangulate my qualitative and quantitative study and was very interesting experience.

plaese see the attachment for more detail:)

Thanks, this is a useful document. Can you tell us how do you interpret the difference in findings on the same issue from data collected using more than one method? Can it be used for cross-checking the data gathered by one method with another?

yes, definitely we can cross check our data through this method

The findings of the Quantitative and Qualitative study have elaborated not only gaps among the various stake-holders, but, also identified and described a host of contextual and system factors with specific suggestions to improve an understanding about the disease. If we only rely on quantitative finding we could not understand in-depth scenario. Suggestion which were asked in qualitative component was very useful which couldn’t be finding out in close ended question.

So, through a process of triangulation, opinions that participants have about a survey could be cross-validated with their liker-scaled responses on that same survey, correct? 

It could be further exploration/in-depth inquiry of results we receive through survey.

A good place to start looking at issues associated with triangulation and such aspects of qualitative research is: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1120242/  This article has a useful set of references.

Respected Scholars,

Kindly help me in the following matter of qualitative research problem at doctoral level.

Link of my question:

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_qualitative_descriptive_study_using_observation_and_survey_technique_be_done_on_brand_equity_in_Pakistan_cognitive_construct_as_the_gap

Here is something right-to-the-point of triangulation from Alan Bryman (Social Research Methods, Oxford): 

Just a small comment, according to me, the main point is to gain good understanding from different perspectives of an investigated phenomenon. That should not necessarily mean cross-checking data from at least two sources or methods and confirming it is correct or not. It's more to increase the level of knowledge about something and to strengthen the researcher's standpoint from various aspects. Especially when setting and following the methodological framework of a research. In numerous cases, this should be practiced as much as possible.  

http://www.referenceworld.com/sage/socialscience/triangulation.pdf

Triangulation is a technique that facilitates validation  of data through cross verification from two or more sources. In particular, it refers to the application  and combination of several research methods in the study of the same phenomenon.

Triangulation is adopting more method for validation of data and cross checking of findings 

Question..

Does using more than one 'sources' of data count towards triangulation as well..

e.g. in my research, I am gathering the data from following three sources:

1. Literature review 

2. Interview with students

3. Interview with teachers

(in order to identify program structures etc.).

Can I claim that by using these three different sources and finding commonalities between them, I am doing data triangulation?

Assistance in this regard would be highly appreciated. 

Kind Regards,

Nabeel

Greetings. Yes, and you hope that the results of each support the other.  If not, then you start another analysis to determine why.

Triangulation need to be used when you face difficulty in describing complex and or minor phenomena. The use of triangulation in the above mentioned context will be useful. Hope you have considered all the stakeholders( what about employers ?)

I am investigating four categories of respondents which I cannot have the same access to them. I have resolved to use survey questionnaires for those respondents I cannot easily access and the outcome of the survey will be used in the same study (...asking the same questions). Am I correct to say this is triangulation?

You are   planning to use  multiple  sources to gather  data using the same instrument  ,this will help you to reduce common method  biases. In case you need to investigate  differential  perspectives  of the multiple sources regarding the phenomena ,under consideration-Multi source triangulation will be useful.

Triangulation is the process of comparative data analysis using differing methodologies that hopefully will converge, resulting in answers that reinforce each other.  This will validate the researchers findings. Should results be different, the researcher will want to analyze why they are different. Should two of three methodologies result in similar answers, the researcher will want to analyze why the two are similar and the third different.

 To me Triangulation is a techniques to collect data by multiple sources and/or multiple collection methods to investigate a phenomena in a more better and deeper understanding. Or to analyse collected data using different statistical methods/test/models that will converge the results to validate the statistical findings.

Though some of the authors believe that triangulation is validation of data trough different sources but many of them are of the view that the objective of triangulation is not the verification of validity of data but it is rather effort to collect data on different aspects of a phenomenon through different sources. Ultimately, the phenomenon under investigation is well understood using collected data and information together.

triangulation means using more than one method for data collection within same context

Sirajo answer is OK.

I believe that we can undertake triangulation for more than one purpose. In some cases, it may be necessary to collect data in more than one way or from more than one sources, so as to gain greater understanding of the phenomenon being studied. In other cases, it may be necessary to use this technique for purposes of validation by comparing the information or result obtained from the different sources.

Colin Robson's excellent book 'Real World Research' addresses the concept of triangulation quite succinctly.

Thank you Busby for referring the book.

I want to research in learners' diverse breadth of vocabulary what triangulation of data can i look for.

Many have offered valid information on data triangulation. Let say, you have a research hypothesis that you want to test. You designed a mixed research in which you created serious of methods on how you plan on assessing your research hypothesis by collecting relevant data. For example, you could design a survey to assess the perception of the general population on the subjects of your research. Noting that in the survey, you will capture valid quantitative data as well as qualitative data depending on the kind of questions being asked. Note also that people will have limited time to ask questions around your survey. Once the survey have being administered, you can analyze the data and drew more questions from the survey results to inform further investigation. One way to approach this is to develop semi-structure interviews from information that you want to investigate from the survey provided by the sample of the population surveyed. The semi-structure interviews will allow you to segment/sample a group of the population that you think might be interested to discuss your questions. Once that is done, you could further condense the qualitative data from the semi-structure interviews into relevant questions for further investigation, but this time may via focus groups. You then develop focus groups questions that dive more into specific issues of your study and identify groups that you want sample out for the focus group discussions. Depending on your research resources and the scope of your study, you could identify focus groups not less then 3 and not more than 12 people. You could create segments such as Female only group, Male only group, group of male and female, etc. Once you have gather all the data as stated in this example, you can now further analyze your results incorporating both quantitative, qualitative, and geo-spatial data to understand trends and issues.

Yes Muhammad, you are using triangulation because you are using two methods for your data collection. You said you are using 3 methods but in actual fact you are only triangulating two methods (1. literature review and 2. interviews). For a little clarification, interviewing teachers and students should not be judged as two different methods. it is the interview method but then your level of analysis is a school which you are targeting both the students and the teachers.

Triangulation method is also much related to the Multi Trait, Multi Method (MMMT) as espoused by David Garson in his Guide to Writing Empirical Paper. Please read page 196-222 for more information.

@Paul Kyei, What about a case where teachers were interviewed and students were given a set of questions to fill in their (closed ended) answers? Sure that is three methods of data collection including literature review...

A triangulation of the study results is a method applicable also to evaluation studies. Through a triangulation the researcher will acquire qualitative and quantitative data and the analysis of these increases the trustworthiness, or validity of the study. See also Popham (1993) and/or Patton (1990).

Very good explanations and clarifications of triangulation is being provided by the researchers and authors.

Yes, I agree with the responses; it appars triangulation shows a greater significance in qualitative studies; different perspective provide an in-depth analysis of a phenomena. A positivism perspective relies less on abstract ideas.

The link you provided does not work Renata Petrevska Nechkoska

Sorry to say.

triangulation is often used to in order to check the results of one and the same subject in different methods, by different investigators, based on different theories

Data triangulation: involves time, space, and persons

Investigator triangulation: involves multiple researchers in an investigation

Theory triangulation: involves using more than one theoretical scheme in the interpretation of the phenomenon

Methodological triangulation: involves using more than one method to gather data, such as interviews, observations, questionnaires, and documents.

triangulation provides a more detailed and enriched picture of the situation due to different data collected

I find overlap in definitions of data triangulation and methodological triangulation. I conclude that data triangulation may be a subset of methodological triangulation. Does anyone have a definitive answer and source with which to back it?

I need this paper.

What is triangulation of data in qualitative research? Is it a method of validating the information collected through various methods?@

@

I used triangulation of data in my research for, the authentication of results and to reduce biases

OK, we also used this technique in our study

Very good explanation by various authors. Triangulation is basically used for the validation of data/results using diverse available techniques/methods for the common interest.

Merriam and Tisdell (2016, Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation, 4th ed., p. 244-246) describe the various types of triangulation for the purpose of assisting internal validity. Options for such triangulation include: multiple data collection methods, multiple data sources, multiple investigators, or multiple theories (p. 245). The authors also point out that the concept of triangulation is morphing into a more complex credibility tool referred to as crystallization (p. 245-246) gaining popularity in postmodern research.

I am searching for references on qualitative research sample size. Any suggestions?

Creswell & Poth (2018, Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches, 4th ed., p. 158-160) explains that sample size in qualitative research is dependent upon which approach is being utilized. Sample size may range from a single individual to dozens to hundreds - as with many topics related to research design and methodology, the phrase "it depends" applies here as well. Also keep in mind that during the process of data collection and/or initial analysis, additional samples may be required in order to fully glean the entire scope of the topic being investigated.

Triangulation of data is helpful in Qualitative analysis in validating conclusions.

More inputs needed.

Triangulation-

It is data collection method to be data more effective ie bias less and increase faith.

Yes. it is method for bringing validation ie view data from different perception. Different types of triangulation are there. Example,

1. Space

2. Time

3. Source

4. researcher

5. etc............

I have used multiple triangulation, collected data from different settings (hospitals, private medical centers and health care centers) and I collected data too from healthcare workers who were randomly selected from among the study participants from different groups. I agree that it added rigor into making sense of the data - consistency, validity and completeness of data in relations to questions raised.

Triangulation of Data

A useful technique to validate the results

From field work experience: triangulation facilitates validation of data through cross verification from more than two sources. It tests the consistency of findings obtained through different instruments and increases the chance to control, or at least asses, some of the threats or multiple causes influencing the results (also experienced by other research workers). In the study I undertook, interviews were conducted for each group to gain insight into their perspectives on (subject -informed consent). At the analysis stage feedback from the different groups were compared to determine areas of agreements as well as areas of divergence. My view: this type of triangulation is easy to implement and I understand from research workers that it the most popular.

Even triangulation gives some validation of your research, most of the time, data cannot converge to similar outcomes. Therefore, there can be outliers that may happen due to the fact that heavy usage of triangulation.

I have three different sources of data

a. Literature Review Analysis

b. Output from Case Study (applied on a framework proposed as part of the Research activity)

c. Survey of Experts in the area of Research.

I understand that the Triangulation Method is applicable and helpful for the following reasons.

1. Collection of Data is done from different sources

2. Validation / Reinforcing to be done on the interpretation made from analysis of data

3. To increase the credibility of the Research Output

I hope that the understanding is correct.

Triangulation of data is a source of validation. In this there is no need of three tools or data collection methods. It can be triangulate on two tools of data collection.

For Example, I am reviewing different policies documents of recruitment and I want to validate it from authentic personnel or source. This is how a triangulation is based on my thinking and understandings.

To the best of mine, Validation simply means matching one type of data (say suppose desk review/survey ) with other type of of data specially focusing on primary data (say suppose observation/interview) as to make the sources or data/research more authentic impact . The same goes for triangulation

Triangulation refers to the use of multiple methods or data sources in qualitative research to develop a comprehensive understanding of phenomena (Patton, 1999).

Yes, it is method of validating the data using different sources.

To understand data from different perspective. Helpful to take proper decision.

Thank you everyone.

I think all that have been said provide enough answers to your question. In summary, triangulation is the process of validating the study using multiple sources of data. For example, augumenting your primary data obtained from the field with the secondary data (literature reviewed)

This file further elaborate different types of Triangualtion

Dear @ Renata Petrevska Nechkoska the link is not working, which you provided above.

Imagine we have two sources of data: Interview (one source) and diary (another source). When we analyze each, are we going to put "the codes we derived from each source" into one page and produces themes? Or Are we going to compare the "codes+themes" from interview and diary? Please advise. I have also one more source in my reseach: document.

The method of verify and clarify the quantitative data collected

Yes

Triangulation of data in qualitative research is one of the key determinants of improving the methodology for conducting qualitative research. In essence, triangulation is defined as the method used in social research to ensure higher quality of research and reduce measurement error. Triangulation of data in qualitative research basically mainly consists of collecting data using two or more methods (e.g. observation together with a survey, surveys and content analysis), followed by comparing and combining results. It may consist of various, specific partial methods and research instruments used. The composition of specific partial research methods and instruments can change and be improved by implementing new ICT information technologies, Industry 4.0 and others.

Regards

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Triangulation is a method used in qualitative research which involves crosschecking multiple data sources of information and collection procedures to ensure that the data we rely on are valid and free from bias and to evaluate the extent to which all evidence converges, another word, it offers multiple sources of evidence to identify uncertainties, consistencies, and potential biases.

Taking three methods of data collection depending on your study and comparing them to each other. This can add validity/reliability (depending on your study) to the results of the study.

To promote quality in research

Triangulation helps to gain depth understanding of findings from different perspectives or sources.

En mi tesis doctoral aplique 3 métodos: Dialéctico, biográfico y hermenéutico.La triangulacion se realizo tomando como elemento básico la narrativa.El resultado de la triangulación fue el mismo para cada método. La interpretación del sentido y o significado de las narrativas para cada método se mantuvo constante, la validez se cumplio para los 3 metodos.Se combinan entre si.

more than one data source in the same study by using the same gathering data tool.

What about triangulation in quantitative research?

Do you have a full article that explains the whole process of Triangulation? May I request a copy?

Triangulation refers to the use of multiple methods or data sources in qualitative research to develop a comprehensive understanding of phenomena (Patton, 1999). Triangulation also has been viewed as a qualitative research strategy to test validity through the convergence of information from different sources.

Methods triangulation is the checking of the consistency of findings by using different data-collection methods. The methods may be all qualitative, for example unstructured interviews and observation, or all quantitative, for example questionnaires and structured interviews, or a mixture of the two.

La triangulación se refiere al uso de varios métodos (tanto cuantitativos como cualitativos), de fuentes de datos, de teorías, de investigadores o de ambientes en el estudio de un fenómeno. Este término metafórico representa el objetivo del investigador en la búsqueda de patrones de convergencia para poder desarrollar o corroborar una interpretación global del fenómeno humano objeto de la investigación y no significa que literalmente se tengan que utilizar tres métodos, fuentes de datos, investigadores, teorías o ambientes.

This might be useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iccWCyeo-_s&t=212s

Yes. This is the method that helps for:

1. Ensure ethics in data collection

2. Increasing reliability of the research

3. Helps to get right infer.

Triangulation is good to validate study results and be carried out where ever possible.

Triangulation is also an effort to help explore and explain complex human behaviour using a variety of methods to offer a more balanced explanation to readers ( Noble and Heale, 2019).

Triangulation means using more than one method to collect data on the same topic (Kulkarni, 2013).

Yes, triangulation involves using several data collection techniques in order to validate findings. For example, instead of performing solely qualitative interviews for data collection, add focus group sessions, collection of documents, and/or collection of personal journal entries from participants. These additions bolster the quality of your findings.

Is this triangulation method only applicable to qualitative?

Triangulation is of many types; data triangulation, method triangulation and researcher triangulation. The use of triangulations makes the research more robust. Using multiple sources of data and research methods to understand phenomena yields many benefits. Triangulation serves as a safeguard against being misled by non-representative samples and unreliable research methods. When the goal is to diagnose a problem or predict a future event, using multiple sources of information and multiple methods also leads to more accurate results and conclusions. The internet has made acquiring data, storing data, and processing data cheaper, be it quantitative or qualitative data. In video interview, one is very near to the physical interview but in telephonic interview, the researcher is not able to capture the facial expressions and emotions. One must, however, clearly understand that it is triangulation of data sources in qualitative research. The researcher studies the phenomenon, data is the means. Different data sources helps the researcher understand the phenomenon better.

Prashant Kulkarni Fundación para la investigación de Salud comunitaria. Tema Triangulación.

using different methods of collecting data for the research study. It makes sense because there should really be different methods of collecting data.I am not an expert but just trying what I understood with triangulation in data collection for research study. Intiendo espanol pero prefero respuestas en Ingles. this should also be done quantitative and I always wanted data collection quanitatively.

Triangulation involves using several data collection techniques in order to validate findings

Triangulation can also be applied to already collected data. It involves the use of multiple data sources to forecast, model or study an event of public health importance.

It is very helpful to get faithful data. It helps researchers to get a real solution to a research objective. Quantitative, qualitative and FGD methods data can be triangulated. I got a good result in PhD research.

The idea of triangulation was discussed by Guba and Lincoln in 1981/1985 as a form of trustworthiness for qualitative research studies. While it has been accepted as a means of showing rigor in the research approach, triangulation is also recognized more recently as needing further consideration as it is built upon a general concept that the data will overlap and show the same findings. Yet, recognizing the sociocultural contexts and multiple actors involved, the overlaps may not overlap as once expected. This means that today for qualitative researchers there are multiple ways accepted as indicating rigor and trustworthiness in data beyond triangulation.

The outstanding question of triangulation of data in qualitative research. Congratulations!!!

A triangulation of the data (both quantitative and qualitative) is a technique that is normally employed for assessing study programs/curricula. Assessment or evaluation is not focused on finding the 'truth' but rather the 'worth' of a program. For this reason a triangulation of the data (3 sets) strengthens the validity of the evaluation studies whose findings may be adopted, or adapted accordingly in other schools or universities.

One of the purpose of triangulation is to cross-validate the findings derived from various methodologies that you utilised in your conduct of research. In qualitative research, it is quite normal to have a minimum of three sets of methods in collecting your data to support your analysis and the validity of your findings. In other words, triangulation is a tool to support the validity of your findings.

Is it possible to go for triangulation in the findings aswell. e.g. Can findings of a study be triangulated with previous text and findings in order to support the first study.