title: The use of triangulation for completeness purposes.
abstract: Triangulation in research refers to the use of multiple techniques for gathering and/or handling data within a single study The original purpose of triangulation was to seek confirmation of apparent findings. There now appears to be support for a second purpose - completeness. This paper reviews the arguments surrounding the use of triangulation, and shows how its use facilitated one researcher's attempt to provide a complete picture of the phenomenon explored in a qualitative study of the adequacy of the nurse education system in Malta.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Division, Institute of Health Care, University of Malta.
authors.forename: Maria Fenech
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Adami
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiger
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002568:Certification / Q000592:standards; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000592:standards; D004510:Education, Nursing, Diploma Programs / Q000592:standards; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008319:Malta; D016294:Models, Nursing; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009726:Nurses / Q000592:standards; D015402:Nursing Education Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D036301:Qualitative Research; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D013997:Time Factors