Qualitative Data – Triangulation

Triangulation is the method of viewing things from more than one perspective (Denscombe, 2010) and can help cross checking of more than one source of data in a study (Bryman, 2012; Bell, 2010). Triangulation takes multiple sources of information and maps one one set of data onto another to give a more comprehensive, accurate representation of the data; it lets the research take different contexts and constructed them into one (Silverman, 2011).

I used triangulation to identify common themes from the survey, new entrants, managers and what is on the current induction course. I looked at the themes that were emerging in each area through coding and link them together. This assisted in the design of the module as I could justify what to include, giving validity to the choices I made (Barbour, 2007). For example one area that came out of all data was information on European Institutions and how the Department interacts with them.

 

References

Barbour R. (2007), Doing Focus Groups, SAGE, London

Bell J., (2010), Doing your research project: a guide for first-time researchers in education, health and social science 5th Edition, Open University Press, Maidenhead.

Bryman, A. (2012), Social research methods.  4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Denscombe M., (2010), Title The good research guide: for small-scale social research projects 4th Edition, Maidenhead, Open University Press, 2010.

Silverman D., (2011), Interpreting Qualitative Data – 4th Edition, Sage, London.