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Understanding triangulation in research

Article in Evidence-Based Nursing · August 2013

DOI: 10.1136/eb-2013-101494 · Source: PubMed

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Roberta Heale Dorothy Forbes

Laurentian University University of Alberta
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Research made simple

Understanding triangulation in research

Roberta Heale,1 Dorothy Forbes2
10.1136/eb-2013-101494 The term ‘triangulation’ originates in the field of navi- phenomenon or illustrate different phenomenon and
gation where a location is determined by using the divergent findings can lead to new and better explana-
1
angles from two known points.1 Triangulation in tions for the phenomenon under investigation.3
School of Nursing, Laurentian
research is the use of more than one approach to Examples of triangulation, or mixed methods, are as
University, Sudbury, Ontario,
researching a question. The objective is to increase con- varied as there are research studies. Nurses’ attitudes
Canada
2
Faculty of Nursing, University of
fidence in the findings through the confirmation of a about teamwork may be collected through a survey and
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, proposition using two or more independent measures.2 focus group discussion. A study to explore the reduction
Canada The combination of findings from two or more rigorous of blood pressure through a nutritional education pro-
approaches provides a more comprehensive picture of gramme may include a review of participant adherence
the results than either approach could do alone.3 to the diet changes through daily logs along with a
Correspondence to: Triangulation is typically associated with research series of BP readings. In every case, the researchers link
Roberta Heale methods and designs. However, there are several other and compare different methods related to a single
School of Nursing, Laurentian variations on the term. Triangulation may be the use of research question.
University, Sudbury, ON,
multiple theories, data sources, methods or investigators Although regarded as a means to add richness and
Canada P3E2C6;
within the study of a single phenomenon.2 4 The tech- depth to a research inquiry, there are several criticisms
[email protected]
nique was originally introduced into qualitative research of the use of triangulation in research. Triangulation
in the 1950s as a means to avoid potential biases arising assumes that the data from two distinct research
from the use of a single methodology.4 This technique is methods are comparable and may or may not be of
used to confirm suggested findings, but it can also be equal weight in the research inquiry. In addition, when
used to determine the completeness of data. two or more data sets have convergent findings, there
Methodological triangulation is the most common must be caution in interpretation since it may simply
type of triangulation.2 Studies that use triangulation mean that each of the data sets is flawed. Others3 ques-
may include two or more sets of data collection using tion whether the term triangulation has any meaning
the same methodology, such as from qualitative data when it is so broadly defined, mixed methods is pre-
sources. Alternatively, the study may use two different ferred. In spite of these criticisms, triangulation is gener-
data collection methods as with qualitative and quanti- ally considered to promote a more comprehensive
tative.4 “This can allow the limitations from each understanding of the phenomenon under study and to
method to be transcended by comparing findings from enhance the rigour of a research study.
different perspectives….”4
Triangulation is often used to describe research Competing interests None.
where two or more methods are used, known as mixed
methods. Combining both quantitative and qualitative
methods to answer a specific research question may
result in one of the following three outcomes: (1) the References
1. The Institute of Navigation. (n.d.). Getting to the point. http://
results may converge and lead to the same conclusions;
www.ion.org/satdiv/education/lesson6.pdf
(2) the results may relate to different objects or phenom-
2. Bryman A. (n.d.). Triangulation. http://www.referenceworld.
ena but may be complementary to each other and used com/sage/socialscience/triangulation.pdf
to supplement the individual results and (3) the results 3. Tashakkori A, Teddle C. Handbook of mixed methods in social
may be divergent or contradictory. Converging results and behavioral research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2003.
aim to increase the validity through verification; com- 4. Williamson GR. Illustrating triangulation in mixed-methods
plementary results highlight different aspects of the nursing research. Nurse Res 2005;12:7–18.

98 Evid Based Nurs October 2013 | volume 16 | number 4 |

 Downloaded from http://ebn.bmj.com/ on January 30, 2017 - Published by group.bmj.com

Understanding triangulation in research

Roberta Heale and Dorothy Forbes

Evid Based Nurs 2013 16: 98 originally published online August 13, 2013
doi: 10.1136/eb-2013-101494

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http://ebn.bmj.com/content/16/4/98

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Topic Articles on similar topics can be found in the following collections

Collections Research made simple (22)
Diet (222)
Hypertension (227)

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