Triangulation (Üçleme)

Prof Dr. Remzi ALTUNIŞIK

 Origins of Triangulation
In the social sciences, triangulation is often used to indicate
that two (or more) methods are used in a study in order to
check the results.

The concept of triangulation is borrowed from navigational

and land surveying techniques that determine a single point
in space with the convergence of measurements taken from
two other distinct points.

The idea is that one can be more confident with a result if

different methods lead to the same result.

Triangulation is a powerful 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
 Uses of Triangulation
• It can be used in both quantitative (validation) and
qualitative (inquiry) studies.
• It is a method-appropriate strategy of founding the
credibility of qualitative analyses.
• It becomes an alternative to traditional criteria like
reliability and validity.
• It is the preferred line in the social sciences.

By combining multiple observers, theories, methods, and

empirical materials, researchers can hope to overcome
the weakness or intrinsic biases and the problems that
come from single method, single-observer and single-
theory studies.
 Hence, Triangulation, …
O refers to the use of more than one approach
to the investigation of a research question in
order to enhance confidence in the ensuing
findings.
O Since much social research is founded on the
use of a single research method and as such
may suffer from limitations associated with
that method or from the specific application of
it, triangulation offers the prospect of
enhanced confidence.
O Triangulation is one of the several rationales
for MULTIMETHOD RESEARCH.
O Also called convergent validation
 Types of Triangulations

O Denzin (1970) extended the idea of

triangulation beyond its conventional
association with research methods and
designs. He distinguished four forms of
triangulation:
O 1. Data/Source triangulation
O 2. Investigator/Analyist triangulation
O 3. Theoretical triangulation
O 4. Methodological triangulation
 Data/Sources Triangulation

O which entails gathering data through

several sampling strategies, so that
slices of data at different times and
social situations, as well as on a
variety of people, are gathered.
O comparing people with different views
O at different points in time
O In public vs. private settings
 Investigator/Analyst
Triangulation
O which refers to the use of more than
one researcher in the field to gather
and interpret data.
O The intention is not to seek
consensus, but to understand
multiple ways of interpreting data.
 Theoretical/Perspective
Triangulation
O which refers to the use of more than
one theoretical position in
interpreting data.
Methodological Triangulation

O which refers to the use of more than

one method for gathering data.
O This, as the preceding discussion
implies, is the most common of the
meanings of the term.
O complementary aspects of same
phenomenon
O Common to have both qualitative
and quantitative together
Within-Method and Between-
Method Triangulation
O Denzin drew a distinction between within-method and between-
method triangulation.
O Within-method triangulation involves the use of varieties of the
same method to investigate a research issue; for example, a self-
completion questionnaire might contain two contrasting scales to
measure emotional labor.
O Between-method triangulation involved contrasting research
methods, such as a questionnaire and observation.
O Sometimes this meaning of triangulation is taken to include the
combined use of QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH and QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH to determine how far they arrive at convergent findings
(see MULTIMETHOD RESEARCH). For example, a study in the United
Kingdom by Hughes et al. (1997) of the consumption of “designer
drinks” by young people employed both structured interviews and
focus groups. The two sets of data were mutually confirming in that
they showed a clear pattern of age differences in attitudes toward
these types of alcoholic drinks.
Within- and Between Method
Triangulation- cont.
O Triangulation can have other meanings and uses as well.

O There is the "within-method" kind (Denzin, 1978: 301)

which uses multiple techniques within a given method to
collect and interpret data. For quantitative methods such
as survey research, this can take the form of multiple
scales or indices focused on the same construct. For
qualitative methods such as participant observation, this
can be reflected in "multiple comparison groups" (Glaser
and Strauss, 1965: 7) to develop more confidence in the
emergent theory.
O In short, "within-method" triangulation essentially
involves cross-checking for internal consistency or
reliability while "between-method" triangulation tests the
degree of external validity.
How many methods are needed?

O Triangulation is sometimes used to refer

to all instances in which two or more
research methods are employed. Thus,
it might be used to refer to multimethod
research in which a quantitative and a
qualitative research method are
combined to provide a more complete
set of findings than could be arrived at
through the administration of one of the
methods alone.
Triangulation and Convergent
Validity
O Triangulation has come to assume a
variety of meanings although the
association with the combined use of
two or more research methods within
a strategy of CONVERGENT VALIDITY
is the most common. In recent years,
it has attracted some criticism for its
apparent subscription to a naively
realist position.
 Kaynakça

O Denzin, Norman K. 1978 The

Research Act, 2d ed. New York:
McGraw-Hill.
O Jick, Todd D., 1979, “Mixing
Qualitative and Quantitative
Methods: Triangualtion in Action”,
Administrative Science Quarterly,
Volume 24, December, pp. 602-611.