Triangulation in Qualitative Research

Abstract

In social research the term ‘triangulation’ is used to refer to the observation of the research issue from (at least) two different points. This is most often realized by means of applying different methodological approaches. As a strategy for the validation (see 4.7) of the procedures and results of empirical social research triangulation has been given special attention, particularly in the more recent publications on qualitative methods (cf. Marotzki 1995a; Schründer-Lenzen 1997). Triangulation is currently also being used in the debate about the relationship between qualitative and quantitative research (Jick 1983; see 4.5). In this chapter, however, we are primarily concerned with triangulation within qualitative research, which has been the subject of serious discussion in recent literature (e.g. Flick 1998c; Seale 1999a,b; Steinke 1999).