Explain the effect of triangulation on the credibility/trustworthiness of qualitative research.
Definition of Key Terms
Triangulation: use of different approaches to the gathering of data in a single study in order to improve the credibility of the conclusions.
Credibility: the breadth and depth of information gathered and how well the researcher appears to have analyzed it.
Triangulation
Data triangulation: use of data collected from different sources or at different times → higher credibility
Researcher triangulation: using different people as researchers → reduce the effect of researcher bias in the analysis → higher confirmablility and credibility
Theoretical triangulation: use of different theoretical approaches to address one situation → researcher forced to justify why they consider a particular theory to be relevant in explaining the phenomena observed → higher credibility
Methodological triangulation: using different techniques to research a single topic (could be qualitative and quantitative) → help to construct a fuller picture of the phenomena under investigation → higher credibility
Conclusion
Triangulation: use of different approaches to the gathering of data in a single study in order to improve the credibility of the conclusions.
Credibility: the breadth and depth of information gathered and how well the researcher appears to have analyzed it.
Triangulation
Data triangulation: use of data collected from different sources or at different times → higher credibility
Researcher triangulation: using different people as researchers → reduce the effect of researcher bias in the analysis → higher confirmablility and credibility
Theoretical triangulation: use of different theoretical approaches to address one situation → researcher forced to justify why they consider a particular theory to be relevant in explaining the phenomena observed → higher credibility
Methodological triangulation: using different techniques to research a single topic (could be qualitative and quantitative) → help to construct a fuller picture of the phenomena under investigation → higher credibility
Conclusion
- Decisions made on how to triangulate by the researchers → risk of subjectivity (the ability of interpreting the data or to make judgement by using the experience, beliefs and feeling) still exists
- When there is a systematic bias (external influences that may affect the accuracy of the result) → conclusions from triangulation would not be more credible, but have the illusion of credibility
- Qualitative methodology assumes data can only represent that single event → triangulation does not bring us closer to an objective truth, but it gives two sets of data with different meaning