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Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

to triangulate

English answer:

to use two (or more) sources in a study to check results/data

Added to glossary by Yvonne Gallagher
Oct 4, 2017 11:32
6 yrs ago
9 viewers *
English term

to triangulate

English Other Surveying
Often pre-tests and post-tests were done to assess whether learning has been enhanced during the capacity building activities. These activities were measured following three main indicators: reaction, learning, and behavior. It was important to triangulate the results of the data collection by requesting not only participants but also their supervisors for feedback on the actual use of the enhanced skills.
Responses
4 +5 to use two (or more) methods in a study to check results/data
4 +1 cross-checking using different sources
Change log

Oct 8, 2017 18:12: Yvonne Gallagher Created KOG entry

Discussion

Charles Davis Oct 5, 2017:
@Daryo What you have just described is not triangulation as the term is used in surveying.
Daryo Oct 5, 2017:
you can establish your location from readings from 2 beacons (or in relation to some reference points), but you need a third one for cross-checking and evaluating the precision of your calculations. So back to square one: 3 readings needed for any reliable cross-checking.
Charles Davis Oct 5, 2017:
Triangulation in surveying It's not really correct to say that this involves three readings. It involves two, but the crucial point is that they are angles, not distances. Triangulation is a method of determining the position of a point C by reference to two other points of known position, A and B. In each case what is measured is the angle between the line from each observer to the point (AC and BC) and the baseline (AB). Once you have the two angles you can draw a triangle, ABC, where C is the apex, and its position can be precisely determined without measuring any distances.
B D Finch Oct 5, 2017:
Triangulation or cross-checking? As shown by Gallagy below, this term has undergone a partial change of meaning after being borrowed from surveying by the social sciences. For statistical data, the use of the term in the social sciences is, however, closer to the original usage.

@Daryo: in surveying or mapping, each of the three readings is not just used "for confirmation of the other two", though if the three readings do not converge at a single point, that does indicate inaccuracy of at least one reading; however, at least two readings are necessary to plot position and taking three readings adds reliability or reveals (and indicates the scale of) error.
Yvonne Gallagher Oct 5, 2017:
No Misuse

the verb triangulate and noun triangulation are frequently used in research, particularly in the social sciences.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25158659 "Triangulation refers to the use of multiple methods or data sources in qualitative research to develop a comprehensive understanding of phenomena (Patton, 1999)."
or http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1558689812437100
There are various types of triangulation as well. And yes, it means cross-checking the data from 1 source against at least 2 others =at least 3. Note there can be a mix of qualitative and quantitative data or methods of collection and a slightly different definition here: http://www.qualres.org/HomeTria-3692.html
"Rather than seeing triangulation as a method for validation or verification, qualitative researchers generally use this technique to ensure that an account is rich, robust, comprehensive and well-developed..."
Daryo Oct 4, 2017:
there are 3 of them ... validation of data through cross verification from two or more sources...

adding implied parts:

validation of data from one source through cross verification from two or more other sources...

that makes at least 3 sources: the one being verified + 2 other

That's the general idea - as for this ST it's possible that each participant had only one supervisor ...
Tina Vonhof (X) Oct 4, 2017:
@Daryo But there are only two sources: participants and supervisors. I agree with Jack, 'cross-checking' is the correct term to use in this context. It would be 'triangulation' if there were at least three sources.
Daryo Oct 4, 2017:
not really misused more "applied to another field by analogy"

the point of the triangulation in surveying is the cross-checking of results from 3 readings / 3 different sources, same as this "triangulation": each source is used for confirmation of the other two.
Muhammad Atallah (asker) Oct 4, 2017:
Thank you very much!
Jack Doughty Oct 4, 2017:
Word "triangulate" is misused. I think what they mean is "cross-check". "Triangulation" is a process in surveying in which bearings are taken on something from three positions, thus enabling its precise position to be determined. I don't think "triangulate" can be correctly used in this context.

Responses

+5
6 mins
Selected

to use two (or more) methods in a study to check results/data

see here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangulation_(social_science)

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Note added at 9 mins (2017-10-04 11:42:29 GMT)
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some definitions
"...validation of data through cross verification from two or more sources...
attempt to map out, or explain more fully, the richness and complexity of human behavior by studying it from more than one standpoint."[3]
Altrichter et al. (2008) contend that triangulation "gives a more detailed and balanced picture of the situation." [4]
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."[5]


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Note added at 4 days (2017-10-08 18:11:30 GMT) Post-grading
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Glad to have helped
Peer comment(s):
agree Charles Davis
8 hrs
Thanks:-)
neutral Daryo : your own reference says differently: "sources" - although "methods" could also make sense ...
11 hrs
yes, meant to write sources but boils down to the same as various methods can also be used, including mixing qualitative and quantitative data =so using different ways of collection
agree Amlaku Eshetie : I agree with Jack Doughty that "triangulate" is used frequently in research contexts referring to research methods or instruments. However, in this context, it is clear that it used to mean cross-check and validate...
15 hrs
Thank you:-) It is frequently used in the social sciences
agree Morad Seif
18 hrs
Thank you:-)
agree Herbmione Granger : Wouldn't have thought of this! On TV, they triangulate cell phone signals :) //Thanks for the link; very interesting!
21 hrs
Thanks. Yes, used slightly differently in other fields I think e.g. in psychology it is used where a communicates to b via c https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangulation_(psychology)
agree B D Finch
22 hrs
Many thanks:-)
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you!"
+1
11 hrs

cross-checking using different sources

in principle 3 sources - the idea being that all 3 [mutually independent] sources getting it wrong is very unlikely.
Note from asker:
Thank you!
Peer comment(s):
agree Morad Seif
7 hrs
Thanks!
Something went wrong...
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