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Summary on triangulation

Topic: Triangulation
by Dana, 2018 Cohort

Note: This entry was created in 2018, when the task was to “summarise a key reading”, and so may not represent a good example to model current primer entries on.

To understand triangulation, first think about a psychological test called the three-mountain task. This is a task created for children in order to test the development of their theory of mind (TOM). This concept is the ability of an individual to understand that other people can have beliefs, ideas, perspectives, theories, desires, etc. that are different to their own. The task follows as below:

From a childs perspective there is only one mountain, and even though the child is able to walk around the table, if a child has not developed a TOM (as explained above) they will describe their own perspective as what the doll can see. However, when a child develops a TOM (usually around the age of 4/5), even while viewing the mountains from the opposite side, they can describe what the doll can actually see.

This experiment is a very basic version of the triangulation method. In order to acknowledge the dolls perspective a child has to take on alternate perspectives that contrast their own understanding, and further incorporate them together and form a bigger picture of the mountains. This in turn, allows the child to determine what the doll sees. Simply put, when studying a phenomenon or subject, the researcher combines multiple methods, measures, perspectives, and/or theories, in order to reach a more reliable, valid, and truthful conclusion.

In reaching this definition however, we come to the complex problem of the truth. The nature and definition of the truth is extremely subjective, as it is constructed in a symbolic realm, being driven by our own trust, belief and understanding of the world around us. Thus through the understanding of TOM, we know that each individual will have their own truth. Meaning that to strive for one complete version of the truth leaves us in a constant losing battle, dooming us to fail. Instead the ultimate goal is to provide or discover the best approximation of the truth, which is why we deal in probabilities. This is where triangulation steps in.

Triangulation itself is a word borrowed from navigational surveying techniques, which determines a single location in space through the convergence of measurements taken from other distance points. In this sense, the more points used, the more accurately an estimate of their location be made. In terms of complexity, think of it like a triangle, where various perspectives or methods can uncover a different aspect of the issue to provide a more detailed and balanced picture of the situation (Altrichter, et al., 2008: p. 115). In turn it provides an innovative way to overcome the weaknesses and biases arising from single method/observer/theory study, increasing the overall understanding of the problem at hand.

Therefore, triangulation teaches us that sometimes the truth lies between, and in order to unravel complex problems, we need people with a mutual interest and different disciplines, skill sets, and networks, to work together to tackle, integrate, challenge, and solve the issue. It is inevitable, however, in such an approach that inconsistencies may arise, but this is not a weakness but rather an opportunity to unravel a deeper meaning to complexity (Boeri, 2007: p. 45).

References:

• Altrichter, H., Feldman, A., Posch, P. & Somekh, B. (2008). Teachers investigate their work; An introduction to action research across the professions. Routledge. (2nd edition).
• Boeri, M. (2007). A third model of triangulation: Continuing the dialogue with Rhineberger, Hartmann, and Van Valey. Journal of Applied Social Science, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 42-48.

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This content has been contributed by a student as part of a learning activity.
If there are inaccuracies, or opportunities for significant improvement on this topic, feedback is welcome on how to improve the resource.
You can improve articles on this topic as a student in "Unravelling Complexity", or by including the amendments in an email to: Chris.Browne@anu.edu.au

Note: This entry was created in 2018, when the task was to “summarise a key reading”, and so may not represent a good example to model current primer entries on.

To understand triangulation, first think about a psychological test called the three-mountain task. This is a task created for children in order to test the development of their theory of mind (TOM). This concept is the ability of an individual to understand that other people can have beliefs, ideas, perspectives, theories, desires, etc. that are different to their own. The task follows as below:

From a childs perspective there is only one mountain, and even though the child is able to walk around the table, if a child has not developed a TOM (as explained above) they will describe their own perspective as what the doll can see. However, when a child develops a TOM (usually around the age of 4/5), even while viewing the mountains from the opposite side, they can describe what the doll can actually see.

This experiment is a very basic version of the triangulation method. In order to acknowledge the dolls perspective a child has to take on alternate perspectives that contrast their own understanding, and further incorporate them together and form a bigger picture of the mountains. This in turn, allows the child to determine what the doll sees. Simply put, when studying a phenomenon or subject, the researcher combines multiple methods, measures, perspectives, and/or theories, in order to reach a more reliable, valid, and truthful conclusion.

In reaching this definition however, we come to the complex problem of the truth. The nature and definition of the truth is extremely subjective, as it is constructed in a symbolic realm, being driven by our own trust, belief and understanding of the world around us. Thus through the understanding of TOM, we know that each individual will have their own truth. Meaning that to strive for one complete version of the truth leaves us in a constant losing battle, dooming us to fail. Instead the ultimate goal is to provide or discover the best approximation of the truth, which is why we deal in probabilities. This is where triangulation steps in.

Triangulation itself is a word borrowed from navigational surveying techniques, which determines a single location in space through the convergence of measurements taken from other distance points. In this sense, the more points used, the more accurately an estimate of their location be made. In terms of complexity, think of it like a triangle, where various perspectives or methods can uncover a different aspect of the issue to provide a more detailed and balanced picture of the situation (Altrichter, et al., 2008: p. 115). In turn it provides an innovative way to overcome the weaknesses and biases arising from single method/observer/theory study, increasing the overall understanding of the problem at hand.

Therefore, triangulation teaches us that sometimes the truth lies between, and in order to unravel complex problems, we need people with a mutual interest and different disciplines, skill sets, and networks, to work together to tackle, integrate, challenge, and solve the issue. It is inevitable, however, in such an approach that inconsistencies may arise, but this is not a weakness but rather an opportunity to unravel a deeper meaning to complexity (Boeri, 2007: p. 45).

References:

• Altrichter, H., Feldman, A., Posch, P. & Somekh, B. (2008). Teachers investigate their work; An introduction to action research across the professions. Routledge. (2nd edition).
• Boeri, M. (2007). A third model of triangulation: Continuing the dialogue with Rhineberger, Hartmann, and Van Valey. Journal of Applied Social Science, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 42-48.