The methodological triangulation in research on the communication in the world of work

Abstract

In this article, we discuss the strategy of methodological triangulation as an alternative able to build coherence and cohesion in the methodological research communication. Initially, we discuss the origin of the term triangulation and its appropriation by the social sciences as a metaphor for the combination and crossing methods and research techniques. Subsequently, we will make a summary of how the triangulation has been crafted by researchers from different areas of the social sciences and, at the end of the article, we will show how we have used this search strategy, incorporating it to our research projects.This approach is justified because in investigations conducted by the Centre for Research in Communication and Work, which brings together a group of researchers at the graduate level, we have been applying the methodological triangulation, with quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. Research studies gather a large and differential volume of information that contains data from primary and secondary sources, and comprise data collected through multiple choice questionnaires, observation, words collected in interviews and discussion groups. The analysis of these data has enabled the advancement of theoretical reflections and the proposal of intervention projects related to communication in the world of work.

Keywords: methodological triangulation, communication, world of work, quantitative methods, qualitative methods, empirical research