Triangulation Technique : A Comprehensive Guide to Enhancing Credibility of Research

With the increase in issues with the trustworthiness in qualitative research, it has become a necessity for scholars to establish credibility, transferability, dependability, and conformability of their research. Although all the four factors play a vital role, credibility is the foremost factor that builds the trustworthiness of qualitative research. While developing credibility is one side of the story, enhancing the same is other.

Originating in surveying & navigational contexts, triangulation is a practice of utilising multiple data sources & approaches to perform data analysis and improve the credibility of a research. In a word, triangulation is a process of combining several research approaches to study one concept and over the bias & uncertainty in the outcomes of the research.

In research triangulation are of four types:

1. Data triangulation – This process involves data collection from various sources
2. Theoretical triangulation – This type of triangulation involves borrowing theories from one discipline and using them in another discipline
3. Methodological triangulation – Here we use qualitative and quantitative methods to obtain reliable findings
4. Triangulation by investigator – This type of triangulation involves more than one investigator. The data is collected individually and then compared on the basis of types of data collected

As said earlier, triangulation assists in minimising different types of bias encountered in your research process.

• Measurement bias – This kind of bias is caused on the basis of the approach used to gather data. Perhaps the most common form of this is the setting/environment is which the research is conducted. For instance, peer pressure on focus group participants. Triangulation lets you combine group and individual research methods to reduce the measurement bias. Consider another example where research subjects tend to explain what they heard. Here triangulation combines observational and self-reported to solve the issue.
• Sampling bias – This type of bias occurs when only few convenient population under study is covered. However, some of the research approaches makes it easier to cover a good amount of population. For example, telephonic interview for interstate research subjects can be a substitute for one-to-one interview with local subjects. Likewise, online survey makes it easier to include geographically distant research participants. Triangulation combines the strength of these approaches to ensure complete coverage of the population.
• Procedural bias – Put simply, procedural bias occurs when the research participants experience the same pressure to provide information. For instance, online exit survey may force the participants to answer the questions quickly to complete the survey. Triangulation combines the short with larger engagements to provide participants sufficient time to answer the questions.

Triangulation, although can be used in various scenarios, it is most commonly used:

1. When different sources are used
2. Controversial aspect of research which needs critical assessment
3. Established research method yields limited & frequent wry picture
4. Evaluation of case study of a complex phenomenon

With that said, to achieve triangulation one requires data either from different sources or investigators.

Triangulation can be achieved via:

1. Mixing up different techniques: Combine techniques such as qualitative vs quantitative, self-reported vs facilitated, short vs long engagement, individual interview vs focus group, etc. to balance out each other.
2. Involvement of two or more individuals on a project – Another kind of triangulation can be achieved by involving two or more than two people to make notes, observation, and perform data analysis. This is so because the investigators will have different perspective giving a theoretical framework to analyse data.
3. Layer upon layer – A kind of triangulation can be achieved by conducting research in layers of detail. Begin with broad piece of information, identify major issues, and offer insights to concepts in the next layer. In the second layer focus on narrow area and provide detailed information.

Triangulation is employed for several reasons, of which are:

• To obtain different types of information on a particular issue
• To overcome the weakness of a research method by using the strengths of another method
• To achieve validity and reliability of results

An example for the use of triangulation technique

Consider an example where a research involves studying three crucial concepts. The research problems are (1) access to schooling for women in Pakistan, (2) role of poverty in access to education, and (3) development & implementation of education policies.

For the first research problem, the data was extracted from primary sources such as local leaders, women, & teachers and the data collection tools is interview schedule. For the second research problem, the data was collected from parents, students, and local bodies. For the last research problem, the information was obtained from professors, institutes’ head, and government officers.

Utilisation of various data collection techniques and approaches have led to employ triangulation technique in the research process.

Research methods have limitations such as bias, irrespective of its type. Triangulation is that one technique which not only lets you capture huge amounts of data but also minimise the impact of bias on your study. Leverage triangulation and ensure balanced research process.