Triangulation in aetiological epidemiology.

ABSTRACT: Triangulation is the practice of obtaining more reliable answers to research questions through integrating results from several different approaches, where each approach has different key sources of potential bias that are unrelated to each other. With respect to causal questions in aetiological epidemiology, if the results of different approaches all point to the same conclusion, this strengthens confidence in the finding. This is particularly the case when the key sources of bias of some of the approaches would predict that findings would point in opposite directions if they were due to such biases. Where there are inconsistencies, understanding the key sources of bias of each approach can help to identify what further research is required to address the causal question. The aim of this

SUBMITTER: Lawlor DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5841843 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature