Blog 7: 3/4/2019
Triangulation is the “Investigation of a phenomenon from (at least) two different perspectives (Preece, Rogers & Sharp, 2015, p.230). Frequently, different methods of data collection are used making true triangulation difficult to accomplish. For example, the same subject could have been put through different types of tests where one is concerned with sound and the other is concerned with liquids. The results of these separate tests would be difficult to relate to one another.
Reflection on the Topic
- An example of triangulation that makes the term easy for me to understand is how a GPS will triangulate signals from three different satellites at any given time in an attempt to pinpoint a geographical location.
- Prashant Kulkarni, responding to an inquiry on the Research Gate website, describes triangulation in a research context as “…Using more than one method to collect data on the same topic. This is a way of assuring the validity of research through the use of a variety of methods to collect data on the same topic, which involves different types of samples as well as methods of data collection” (Kulkarni, Research Gate).
- Below is a visualization of the method of triangulation that is used in tracking the location of a cellphone, much like the method of triangulation that is used in GPS.
My Thought
“I’m aware of the importance of double-checking information and now know that the correct term for this practice is Triangulation. It was interesting to learn that there are four types of triangulation (of theories and data, as well as investigator and methodological) but that the different results that are yielded from different studies can sometimes make triangulation impossible.” (Ingrid Bright, 2019)
Reference List
- Preece, Rogers & Sharp, (2015). Interaction and Design: Beyond human-computer interaction. West Sussex, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Kulkarni, Prashant (2014). What is triangulation of data in qualitative research? Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_triangulation_of_data_in_qualitative_research_Is_it_a_method_of_validating_the_information_collected_through_various_methods/
- Cell Phone Triangulation (2019). http://4n6.com/cell-phone-triangulation/
Ingrid Bright 