Triangulation and trustworthiness: advancing research on public service interpreting through qualitative case study methodologies

Aguilar Solano, María

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.37536/fitispos-ij

Triangulation and trustworthiness: advancing research on public service interpreting through qualitative case study methodologies

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Aguilar-Solano M. Triangulation and trustworthiness: advancing research on public service interpreting through qualitative case study methodologies. FITISPosInternational Journal. 2020;7(1):31-52. DOI 10.37536/fitispos-ij

Abstract

This paper discusses a research methods approach to investigate phenomena in interpreting studies based on a triangulation of qualitative methods. It discusses the concept of triangulation, as developed in the social sciences by Campbell and Fiske (1959), with an emphasis on the process of combining and integrating multiple methods. It reviews previous applications of triangulation in translation and interpreting studies and describes the advantages of systematic triangulation for empirical research. The implications of this approach for future research in public service interpreting concerning the trustworthiness of the interpretative nature of qualitative inquiry are also discussed. To demonstrate the practical application of triangulation in public service interpreting settings, this paper draws on a case study conducted by the author where triangulation of participant observation, focus groups and audio-recorded interaction was employed. The integration of the different research methods utilized, as well as the findings derived by triangulation, are illustrated through examples from this study.