Puru DubeyAIR 86 · CSE 2025 · 257 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a definition
Triangulation refers to the use of multiple methods in social research in order to present a credible & valid understanding of social reality.
eg) Combining ethnography with questionnaires.
Body · points and prose
TRIANGULATION IN SOCIAL RESEARCH
It involves verification and offsetting of the limitation of one approach with another. It is done at 3 levels -
(1) DATA TRIANGULATION - using data from multiple sources
eg) combining NFHS-5 data with
Household consumption survey data can increase validity.
(2) Method triangulation → involves using mixed methods to enhance the reliability and validity.
ex Andre Beteille combined participant observation with interviews to give a better understanding of Sripuram.
(3) THEORY TRIANGULATION - involves using multiple theories to interpret the same reality.
ex MN Srinivas used both diffusionism and structural functionalism while studying the Coorgs' Sanskritisation pattern.
As a rigorous method, it enhances reliability and validity in following ways -
REALABILITY AND VALIDITY ENHANCED
- offset → The limitations of one method gets offset by another method enhancing reliability and validity.
ex) Participant observation can lead to understanding of reality in contextual terms and which can be cross-checked by used to generate questionnaires
- Facilitation where one method helps in utilizing another method efficiently.
ex) After participant observation, using the ideas generated to create questionnaires;
- Multi-perspective understanding - as it involves various theories in interpreting same thing.
Close · a summary
eg) sociologists today study gender and caste patterns as well as look for various perspective like difference, hierarchy etc.
Due to its role in enhancing reliability and validity, it has become a default method in sociology.