The Role of Triangulation in Educational Research 

Sara Pahor

Summary:  This paper discusses triangulation as an important research strategy in educational research. Based on a historical overview of the development of the concept, we show how its role has expanded with the shift from positivist to constructivist and pragmatic paradigms, towards a more holistic understanding of complex social phenomena. We then analyse Denzin’s typology of triangulation, presenting and critically evaluating methodological, theoretical, investigator and data triangulation, as well as their applicability in educational research. The discussion is complemented by an examination of interdisciplinary and multiple triangulation. We emphasise that the use of triangulation strategies requires reflection on the researcher’s epistemological assumptions and careful justification aligned with the nature of the research problem. The paper concludes with the observation that triangulation, in the context of contemporary educational research, is understood primarily as a strategy for uncovering the multifaceted nature of research problems, rather than being reduced merely to a universal instrument for establishing scientific truth.