science

Triangulation (social science)

Triangulation (social science) is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Triangulation (social science) rather than just read about it. In short: In the social sciences, triangulation refers to the application and combination of several research methods in the study of the same phenomenon. By combining multiple observers, theories, methods, and empirical materials, researchers hope to overcome the weakness or intrinsic biases and the problems that come from single method, single-observer, and single-theory studies.

Key takeaways

Triangulation (social science) belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Triangulation (social science) to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Triangulation (social science) from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In the social sciences, triangulation refers to the application and combination of several research methods in the study of the same phenomenon. By combining multiple observers, theories, methods, and empirical materials, researchers hope to overcome the weakness or intrinsic biases and the problems that come from single method, single-observer, and single-theory studies. It is popularly used in sociology. "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." Triangulation can be used in both quantitative and qualitative studies as an alternative to traditional criteria like reliability and validity.

Purpose The purpose of triangulation in qualitative research is to increase the credibility and validity of the results. Several scholars have aimed to define triangulation throughout the years.

Cohen and Manion (2000) define triangulation as an "attempt to map out, or explain more fully, the richness and complexity of human behavior by studying it from more than one standpoint." Altrichter et al. (2008) contend that triangulation "gives a more detailed and balanced picture of the situation." According to O'Donoghue and Punch (2003), triangulation is a "method of cross-checking data from multiple sources to search for regularities in the research data."

Types Denzin (2006) identified four basic types of triangulation:

Data triangulation: involves time, space, and persons. Uses multiple sources of data that all have a similar focus. Investigator triangulation: involves multiple researchers in an investigation. Theory triangulation: involves using more than one theoretical scheme in the interpretation of the phenomenon. Methodological triangulation: involves using more than one method to gather data, such as interviews, observations, questionnaires, and documents.

See also Data cleansing Data editing Iterative proportional fitting for a method of data enhancement applied in statistics, economics and computer science

References

Further reading Cohen, L., Mansion, L. and Morrison, K. (2000). Research Methods in Education.5th ed. London: Routledge. p.25

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Triangulation (social science)

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Triangulation (social science) claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Triangulation (social science) before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Triangulation (social science) ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Triangulation (social science)

In research: Triangulation (social science) appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Triangulation (social science) in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Triangulation (social science) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Social science methodology, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Triangulation (social science) outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Triangulation (social science) in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Triangulation (social science) means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Triangulation (social science) out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Triangulation (social science) in simple terms?

Why does Triangulation (social science) matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Triangulation (social science)?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Triangulation (social science).