Can we measure data in qualitative research?
While some may see qualitative research as more difficult to measure or evaluate than quantitative research, using some commonly accepted principles and practices can help provide a framework for reviewing qualitative research according to consistent standards in the field.
What are some ways to analyze qualitative data?
In this post, we looked at the six most popular qualitative data analysis methods, namely:
- Firstly, we looked at content analysis, a straightforward method that blends a little bit of quant into a primarily qualitative analysis.
- Then we looked at narrative analysis, which is about analysing how stories are told.
- Next up was discourse analysis – which is about analysing conversations and interactions.
How to determine validity in qualitative research?
- In qualitative research, the researcher cannot adopt an objective manner and hence he is unable to prove the validity by using statistical procedures. ...
- He needs to make sure that he has avoided personal biases to a minimum to establish the validity of the research.
- He should also use the most appropriate sampling technique to avoid the sampling bias.
What are the benefits of triangulation in research?
- Triangulation confirms and validates the quality results using quantitative studies.
- By using multiple sources and methods inadequacies in one approach or process can be minimized.
- More insights can be obtained by using multiple methods.
- Inconsistencies can be recognized and removed.
What is triangulation in research?
Triangulation in research means using multiple datasets, methods, theories and/or investigators to address a research question. It’s a research st...
What are the types of triangulation?
There are four main types of triangulation : Data triangulation : Using data from different times, spaces, and people Investigator triangulation :...
What are the pros and cons of triangulation?
Triangulation can help: Reduce bias that comes from using a single method, theory, or investigator Enhance validity by approaching the same topic...
What is the purpose of triangulation?
Researchers use triangulation for a more holistic perspective on a specific research question. Triangulation is also helpful for enhancing credibility and validity.
Pros and cons of triangulation in research
Like all research strategies, triangulation has both advantages and disadvantages.
Frequently asked questions about triangulation
Triangulation in research means using multiple datasets, methods, theories and/or investigators to address a research question. It’s a research strategy that can help you enhance the validity and credibility of your findings.
Pritha Bhandari
Pritha has an academic background in English, psychology and cognitive neuroscience. As an interdisciplinary researcher, she enjoys writing articles explaining tricky research concepts for students and academics.
What does data triangulation mean?
Data triangulation is where the researcher uses two or more methods for the verification of the findings and results.
Why do we need two or more methods in qualitative research?
The need to use two or more methods in order to obtain conclusive results in qualitative research can be justified from the fact that qualitative researchers are normally interested in investigating the “why” and “ how” aspects and a single method cannot explain every aspect of every phenomenon.
Why use qualitative and quantitative methods?
Uses different qualitative and quantitative methods to check for consistency of the findings that are generated. If the different methods yield the same results then validity can be established. While this method is popular, it is time consuming to analyse the information yielded from the different methods.
What is environmental triangulation?
Environmental triangulation. The use of Environmental triangulation is limited only to those studies where the findings can be influenced by certain environmental factors. This type of triangulation uses different settings, locations and other factors such as time ,day, season in which the study took place.
When a researcher uses only one method, do you have to believe that the findings are correct?
When a researcher uses only one method, you just have to believe that the findings are correct but when a researcher employs 2-3 methods to answer a single question, 2 out of the 3 may produce same results or all 3 of them may produce clashing results, the researcher than would either reframe the research question, reconsider the methods or do both the things.
What is qualitative research?
When applied to qualitative research this method may be defined as “ an attempt to map out and explain fully the richness and complexity of human behaviour by studying it from more than one stand point ” (Cohen and Manion 1986).
How many types of triangulation are there?
There are five different types of triangulation which will be explained briefly over here
What is triangulation in qualitative research?
Triangulation in qualitative research. “Triangulation” is a term that is frequently mentioned in publications of qualitative studies. Typically, scholars mention “triangulation” in discussions to do with how the “quality” or “validity” of a study might be assured (e.g., Seale, 1999; Tracy, 2010). Where did the term “triangulation” come from, ...
Why is it important to use qualitative research?
It is important for researchers using qualitative designs and methods in their research to consider the limitations and benefits of their choice of methods. Qualitative researchers also need to consider what “quality” means for a study conducted using a particular research design (i.e., quality criteria for autoethnography, narrative inquiry, ...
What is the history of triangulation?
Pelto (2017, p. 241) presents an intriguing history of triangulation which sources the concept from trigonometry, by way of surveying and mapping, through it’s use by quantitative researchers, to it’s redefinition and application in qualitative inquiry. According to Pelto, in the 1950s researchers began to use “triangulation” (defined as using more than one research method) as “an approach to assessing the validity and reliability of data-gathering methods in the social and behavioural sciences” (p. 242). Pelto (2017, pp. 242-243) explains that Campbell and Fiske (1959) published one of the first papers to advocate for “methodological triangulation” (Campbell & Fiske, 1959, p. 101) as an alternative approach to “the single operationalism now dominant in psychology” (p. 101) (italics in original).
What is methodological triangulation?
Methodological triangulation, or the use of multiple methods (both “within-method” and; “between-method” p. 295) in order to to “better unravel the processes under study” (p. 102).
When a research study yields not convergence on a single explanation, but data that supports inconsistent or contradictory?
17) asserts that the researchers need to “make sense of what we find.” In Mathison’s view, this moves “the focus on triangulation away from a technological solution for ensuring validity and places the responsibility with the researcher for the construction of plausible explanation about the pheno mena being studied” (p. 17).
When did researchers start using triangulation?
According to Pelto, in the 1950s researchers began to use “triangulation” (defined as using more than one research method) as “an approach to assessing the validity and reliability of data-gathering methods in the social and behavioural sciences” (p. 242). Pelto (2017, pp. 242-243) explains that Campbell and Fiske ...
Who wrote the research act?
The aforementioned paper by Campbell and Fiske (1959) is mentioned by Norman Denzin (1978) as a source of inspiration for his book The Research Act: A Theoretical Introduction to Sociological Methods.
Why is triangulation important in research?
Why is it important? Triangulation in research involves the use of multiple data sources or approaches in order to enhance confidence and understanding in the ensuing findings of a research. It is a powerful technique that facilitates validation of data through cross verification from two or more sources as mention previously.
How Is Meta Analysis Used?
meta-analysis used? Give an example? Patten (2014) defines meta-analysis as “a set of statistical methods for combining the results of previous studies ” and the conclusions are based on “mathematical synthesis” (p. 151). Cohn and Becker (2003) offer a reason why meta-analysis is done “conducting a meta-analysis is the increase in statistical power that it affords a reviewer” (p. 243). There are two goals for meta-analysis research. They include to estimate a population effect-size parameter and to increase
Why is mapping out relationships and interactions between a family system important?
Mapping out relationships and interactions between a family system can present a visual aspect to assist with understanding the function as a unit. Creating a genogram gives the clients realizations of why family traditions exist and traits that family members pass from generation to generation. The genogram of the Flowers family goes into hree generations that present qualities of generational patterns. Take for example the occupation that the men and women had within the first generations passed
What is science? A brief elaboration of the definition of science and research methods?
What is science? A brief elaboration of the definition of science and research methods INTRODUCTION Science is a complex activity, which may be defined in a number of ways. To unite both the process and the product of science, one way to define science is as a process of constructing predictive conceptual models (Gilbert, 1991). Gilbert (1991) states, when referring to Kuhn (1970, Lunetta & Hofstein (1981), Miller (1978) and Stevens & Collins (1980) that in essence, ‘’the definition of science
Can qualitative research be quantitative?
A research can be carried out qualitatively or quantitatively depends on the research purposes and needs and the type of information the researcher is seeking. My concern in this essay is to briefly share my understandings about basic concepts of qualitative research. Read More.
What is the purpose of triangulation in sociology?
Its purpose is to reduce the weight given to any individual set of results.
Why do we use 3 different methods?
The reason for using 3 different methods is to create the potential for a tiebreaker.
What is the probability of a chance finding over 3 studies?
However, the cumulative probability of a chance finding over 3 studies, where each study meets the 5% rule, is 0.0125% or less.
Why are results obtained by different methods contrasted?
Instead, results obtained by different methods are contrasted in order to learn more about their validity. Different types of triangulation are used to test validity based on different variables. Data obtained through contrasting methods reinforce confidence if it confirms the original conclusion, and removes confidence if it opposes ...
Is verification of sociological methods always ongoing?
While verification of a sociological method is always ongoing, conflicting results are sometimes inevitable. Trying to find the correct interpretation between these conflicting data sets could result in a neverending process of triangulation. If the researcher finds himself in this kind of loop, it could indicate that the wrong question is being ...
Can bias be excluded from sociological research?
Most sociological methods contain biases which cannot be completely excluded. Even the data source may have an inherent bias. For example, people answering a telephone survey may give different responses from those answering a mail survey, an Internet survey, or in person.
Can bias cause atypical results?
These kinds of biases may cause an atypical outcome. While the researcher can try to guess what might cause an atypical result, he has no way of realizing that the outcome was atypical on the basis of a single data source. By using 3 different methods which compensate for each other’s biases, it is much less likely that all 3 sets of results will show the same atypical data.