Multiple methods beyond triangulation: collage as a methodological framework in geography

ABSTRACT

Triangulation is increasingly being seen as a concept that has lost clarity and become too broad to be of use. A new language is required to explain how and why researchers bring together multiple perspectives to study phenomena. By drawing on my own research experiences I propose ‘collage’ as a framework for using multiple methods in geography. This framework differs from triangulation in two important ways: firstly, it brings multiple methods together to elucidate a broad research area rather than a precise one, and secondly, it allows for greater spontaneity and the shifting of the frame of research. This paper explains how multiple methods can be used to gather fragments of knowledge on a topic that, when pieced together, can create a more complex understanding of the wider research area. A focus on this process emphasizes the role of the researcher in putting the pieces together.

KEYWORDS:

• Collage
• bricolage
• triangulation
• research methods
• multiple methods

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Nick Clare, Jake Hodder, Steve Legg, and David Beckingham for their very helpful comments on earlier drafts of this paper as well as the useful feedback from the anonymous reviewers. Any errors remain my own.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The terms ‘mixed methods’ and ‘multiple methods’ often refer to combining qualitative with quantitative approaches (Philip 1998). However, research combining methods that are all qualitative in nature are commonplace in human geography and lauded for their ability to create depth and complexity (Barbour 2006; Hemming 2008). In this paper I will use ‘multiple methods’ to refer to the combination of qualitative methods.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Nottingham School of Geography and the Developing Areas Research Group (of the RGS-IBG) travel prize.