Which term means using two or more methods in the same research project?

Which term means using two or more methods in the same research project?

• A. Triangulation
• B. Official Statistics
• C. Secondary Data
• D. Content Analysis

Answer: (A)

Triangulation is using two or more methods in the same research project to check findings from different angles. By combining methods such as surveys with interviews, or observations with document analysis, researchers compare results to see if they converge. This cross-checking strengthens the reliability and validity of the conclusions and helps guard against the biases inherent in any single method. The other terms describe specific sources or techniques—official statistics are government-produced data, secondary data are data collected for another purpose, and content analysis is a method for analyzing the content of communications—not the practice of mixing methods in one study.

Triangulation is using two or more methods in the same research project to check findings from different angles. By combining methods such as surveys with interviews, or observations with document analysis, researchers compare results to see if they converge. This cross-checking strengthens the reliability and validity of the conclusions and helps guard against the biases inherent in any single method. The other terms describe specific sources or techniques—official statistics are government-produced data, secondary data are data collected for another purpose, and content analysis is a method for analyzing the content of communications—not the practice of mixing methods in one study.