Utilization of Triangulation Strategies in Research: A Panacea for Objective Qualitative Educational Researches in Nigeria

Quantitative-qualitative –research approach has been an issue of long debate among various schools of thoughts. The positivists hold tenaciously that quantitative approach should be adopted for objective outcome while phenomenologists and ethnographers posit that qualitative approach can still be used to arrive at an objective outcome. This debate has been on and many researchers see these approaches as incompatible rather than supplementary. Triangulation is not only needed for cross – validation of results, but also provides in depth knowledge and understanding of the construct under study. The study was concerned with assessing different triangulation strategies, the benefits of triangulation in research techniques, types of triangulation and the skills needed to properly triangulate, how to cross – validate outcomes and possible challenges in utilizing triangulation strategies. It was recommended that, researchers should not merely depend on the utilization of questionnaires and cognitive instruments; but should also adopt other instruments in their research work for eradication of inconsistencies and utilization of more comprehensive data in research activities.