Methodological Pluralism and Triangulation

• Methodological Pluralism: The use of variety methods in a single piece of research. Useful for increasing sociological understanding of social life

-Sociologists will often use use a variety of methods and different type of data to check the results obtained by a particular method are valid and reliable.

• Triangulation: Use of two of more research methods in a single piece of research to check the reliability and validity of research evidence

-Examples of these 2 approaches: "Huphreys in Tearoom Trade"- Use a combination of Q, UI and PO. Harsons: Research on teacher courses- Used Q to obtain the views of over 300 trainee teachers in 4 teacher training institution. Supplemented with informal interviews to gain in depth knowledge. PO used to observe training process, able to cross-check the responce of individuals in closed Q used secondary research= Use of several methods enabled him to check the validity of his findings and produce a fuller and more accurate picture

• The uses of Methodological Pluralism and Triangulation:

1.Provide qualitative date to check findings of quantative data

2.Provide quantative data to check the findings of qualitative data

3.Check the findings of secondary data by primary research

4.Overcome doubts about the representativeness and generalizability of research

5.Make research more reliable by collecting data by a variety of methods

6.Build a fuller picture

7.Overcome or compensate for the limitations of one research method

8.Check the validity by using another research method