Investigator Triangulation A Collaborative Strategy With Potential for Mixed Methods Research

• Published in: Journal of mixed methods research Vol. 10; no. 3; pp. 228 - 250
• Main Author: Archibald, Mandy M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.07.2016; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Bias; Collaboration; Data Analysis; Literature reviews; Mixed methods research; Multiculturalism & pluralism; mixed methods research; investigator triangulation; collaboration; reporting
• ISSN: 1558-6898; 1558-6901
• DOI: 10.1177/1558689815570092

The purpose of this article is to explore investigator triangulation (IT), a collaborative strategy with potential for mixed methods research (MMR). A critical review of the literature was conducted to identify IT’s core elements and its use in MMR. Five databases, 2 MMR journals, and 13 MMR texts were searched for evidence of IT according to preestablished inclusion criteria. IT descriptions and applications were inconsistent and lacked detailed reporting. Incongruence between IT procedures and associated claims were present. IT was generally limited to single-strand data analysis and was used predominantly to reduce researcher bias. IT’s potential as a generative and pragmatic research strategy used to engage with tensions emerging through diversity in MMR is explored and reporting guidelines are presented.