In this modern world, different researches take place about different issues and topics related to every field of life. This is very important to make your research authentic, accurate and reliable. For this purpose, researchers use different methods and techniques to enhance the reliability of their research. Triangulation in research is one of those methods that you can use to achieve the goal of your research. Triangulation in research may help you perform more reliable and effective research. This article will provide you with the concept of triangulation in research, its importance and its different types, which will benefit you. If you want more authentic and effective research, read this article for more useful techniques.
What is triangulation in research?
Triangulation in research is the process of using more than one method and technique to research one specific topic. Using the triangulation technique, you can improve your ideas, authenticate your research outcomes, and ensure precision. It enables you to find new ways of understanding or interpreting a particular event or collected data.
Researchers usually use triangulation in research to investigate the research question. It is useful for the inclusive assessment of the analyses. This technique reduces the errors present in interpretation or measurement and reinforces the accuracy of your research.
Importance of triangulation in research:
It is important to use triangulation in research. As we know, the triangulation technique increases the reliability of the research. Researchers can check and confirm their findings by comparing them using multiple methods. You can minimize the insufficiency of research by using various methods and techniques. You can find the in-depth information and remove the instabilities. For example, you must use the triangulation technique to confirm your study about the effectiveness of a medication. You can do this by conducting your research and comparing it with the results of that study conducted on an external body. You can also hire PhD dissertation writing services in this regard.
Types of triangulation in research:
There are different types of triangulation in research that are discussed below.
1. Data triangulation
Data triangulation is the most common technique in qualitative research. It is used to compare data or results obtained through different sources. Researchers usually use this technique to check the correctness of their hypothesis by comparing their findings. The confirmation and comparison of the data usually involve those who collected and performed analyses of the data.
2. Theory triangulation
In theory triangulation, different theories are used to investigate a specific event or issue. For example, if a researcher wants to study two different psychological theories to describe the same event. Such as employees’ competitive and supportive behaviour. One theory explains that employees may compete against their owners for necessary incentives. While the other theory foresees that employees may cooperate with their owners when demanding incentives. By comparing both theories, the researcher can reinforce the phenomena and check the effects of both theories.
3. Methodology triangulation
In the methodology triangulation, the researcher uses multiple data collection methods. This reduces unfairness in the results and ensures unbiased analyses. It also distinguishes the flaws and contradictions in the research study and helps to improve the study. For example, the researchers can reduce flaws and gaps between their findings by using different data collection methods like surveys and interviews with different groups of people for authentic and accurate results.
4. Scales triangulation
In scales triangulation, a researcher uses different scales or measures during the investigation of the same issue for the comparison and accuracy of the results. This technique is most useful in quantitative research as it enables the researcher to check their results. For example, for the treatment of long-lasting pain, the researcher uses different measures to examine the efficiency of medication. By comparing both measures, the researcher can emphasize their validity.
5. External validity triangulation
In external validity triangulation, the researcher uses the distinct collected data, outcomes and methods related to a specific issue. You can emphasize your research study using various variables and broadening the sample clusters. For example, if the researcher wants to examine whether people with different health issues have the same symptoms. He can use the external validity triangulation technique. He can use the external validity triangulation technique. The researcher can examine his study using a control group consisting of people with diabetes, heart problem and hypertension and compare their behaviour for the same symptoms.
6. Internal validity triangulation
In internal validity triangulation, the researcher finds the irregularities and variances in results that deteriorate the research findings by comparing the distinct data set and results. Let’s take the example of research on long-lasting pain relief. You can compare it with the patient who received the pain medication with the same patient receiving no medication. During the comparison, you will realize that using medication with different measures can evaluate different pain levels.
7. Proximity triangulation
This type of triangulation in research is most useful for qualitative research studies. The researchers use this technique when they want to examine the events and behaviours that are closed to each other. Using this technique, researchers do not need to move from one source to another. They can associate the similarities and differences between the events in one situation throughout the duration.
For example, if you want to study how different family generations react to new technologies, you can use this technique. You can set your focus groups such as school-going children, their parents and grandparents. Interview them about the impact of new technologies. How do these technologies affect their lives? You can gather information from all age group generations without launching separate studies.
Conclusion:
Doctors, scientists and researchers perform different researches about various issues for the betterment of everyday life. These researches should be more authentic and consistent. Triangulation in research is the best way to enhance your research’s consistency, and you must be aware of its importance. Triangulation is sometimes a time-consuming technique, and it requires more authentic sources and detailed scheduling. This article has provided you with the importance and different types of triangulation in research. Use them according to your research study and ace your work.
