Business Commons^™

Using Triangulation To Validate Themes In Qualitative Studies, Karsten Jonsen, Karen Jehn

Karen A. Jehn

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide instructional guidance on how to increase validity and reduce subjectivity in qualitative studies, such as grounded theory. The paper also demonstrates how different techniques can help management research by including informants/managers in a time efficient way. Design/methodology/approach – This paper describes how three complementary triangulation methods can be used for validation and exploration of concepts and themes in qualitative studies. Tree graphs, concept mapping, and member checking are applied in a managerial case study, complementing a conventional grounded theory approach. Findings – The paper suggests that naturalistic inquiries, such as …