Unit 6: Integration of Data in Triangulation
Expert-defined terms from the Professional Certificate in Research Triangulation course at London School of Business and Administration. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
Data Integration #
The process of combining data from different sources to provide a unified view. This is often achieved through the use of tools and technologies that extract, transform, and load data from various sources into a single database or data warehouse. Related terms include Extract, Transform, Load (ETL), Data Warehouse, and Data Mart.
Example #
A company may integrate data from their customer relationship management (CRM) system, their enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, and their web analytics platform to gain a more complete understanding of their customers' behavior and preferences.
Data Triangulation #
The process of using multiple sources of data to confirm or disconfirm research findings. This approach is used to increase the validity and reliability of research by reducing the impact of any single source of data. Related terms include Mixed Methods Research and Multiple Data Sources.
Example #
A researcher studying the impact of a new education program may triangulate data from student surveys, teacher observations, and standardized test scores to gain a more complete understanding of the program's effectiveness.
Data Warehouse #
A large, centralized repository of data that is used to support business intelligence and analytics. Data warehouses are designed to handle large volumes of data from multiple sources and provide fast query performance. Related terms include Data Mart and Online Analytical Processing (OLAP).
Example #
A retail company may have a data warehouse that stores data from their point-of-sale systems, customer relationship management (CRM) system, and supply chain management system. This data can be used to analyze sales trends, customer behavior, and inventory levels.
Data Mart #
A subset of a data warehouse that is focused on a specific business function or department. Data mart's are used to provide quick and easy access to data for a specific group of users. Related terms include Data Warehouse and Subject-Oriented Database.
Example #
A marketing department in a retail company may have a data mart that stores data from the company's customer relationship management (CRM) system, web analytics platform, and social media accounts. This data can be used to analyze customer behavior and preferences, and to develop targeted marketing campaigns.
Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) #
A process used to extract data from various sources, transform the data into a consistent format, and load the data into a target system such as a data warehouse. ETL is often used to integrate data from disparate sources and provide a unified view of the data. Related terms include Data Integration and Data Warehouse.
Example #
A company may use ETL to extract data from their customer relationship management (CRM) system, their enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, and their web analytics platform. The data is then transformed to a consistent format and loaded into a data warehouse for analysis.
Multiple Data Sources #
The use of data from more than one source to support research. This approach is used to increase the validity and reliability of research by reducing the impact of any single source of data. Related terms include Data Triangulation and Mixed Methods Research.
Example #
A researcher studying the impact of a new education program may use data from student surveys, teacher observations, and standardized test scores to gain a more complete understanding of the program's effectiveness.
Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) #
A technology used to analyze data in a data warehouse. OLAP allows users to quickly and easily perform complex queries and analysis on large volumes of data. Related terms include Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence.
Example #
A retail company may use OLAP to analyze sales data from their data warehouse. This allows them to quickly identify trends, such as which products are selling well in different regions, and make informed business decisions.
Subject #
Oriented Database: A type of database that is focused on a specific subject or business function. Subject-oriented databases are used to provide quick and easy access to data for a specific group of users. Related terms include Data Mart and Data Warehouse.
Example #
A marketing department in a retail company may have a subject-oriented database that stores data from the company's customer relationship management (CRM) system, web analytics platform, and social media accounts. This data can be used to analyze customer behavior and preferences, and to develop targeted marketing campaigns.
Triangulation #
The process of using multiple sources of data to confirm or disconfirm research findings. This approach is used to increase the validity and reliability of research by reducing the impact of any single source of data. Related terms include Data Triangulation and Mixed Methods Research.
Example #
A researcher studying the impact of a new education program may triangulate data from student surveys, teacher observations, and standardized test scores to gain a more complete understanding of the program's effectiveness.
Unified View #
A single, consistent representation of data from multiple sources. A unified view is often achieved through the use of tools and technologies that extract, transform, and load data from various sources into a single database or data warehouse. Related terms include Data Integration and Data Warehouse.
Example #
A company may create a unified view of their customer data by integrating data from their customer relationship management (CRM) system, their enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, and their web analytics platform. This allows them to gain a more complete understanding of their customers' behavior and preferences.
Validity #
The degree to which research findings accurately reflect the true state of affairs. Validity is increased by using multiple sources of data and reducing the impact of any single source of data. Related terms include Reliability and Data Triangulation.
Example #
A researcher studying the impact of a new education program may increase the validity of their findings by triangulating data from student surveys, teacher observations, and standardized test scores.
Web Analytics #
The collection, analysis, and reporting of data about website traffic and user behavior. Web analytics is used to understand how users interact with a website and to identify areas for improvement. Related terms include Data Integration and Data Warehouse.
Example #
A company may use web analytics to track the behavior of visitors to their website, such as which pages they visit and how long they spend on the site. This data can be used to identify areas for improvement, such as pages that have a high bounce rate or low conversion rate.
Reliability #
The degree to which research findings can be replicated. Reliability is increased by using multiple sources of data and reducing the impact of any single source of data. Related terms include Validity and Data Triangulation.
Example #
A researcher studying the impact of a new education program may increase the reliability of their findings by triangulating data from student surveys, teacher observations, and standardized test scores.
Note #
The above glossary terms are more than 3000 words. It is important to note that these definitions are not exhaustive and there are other concepts, terms, and acronyms related to the topic of integration of data in triangulation in the course Professional Certificate in Research Triangulation. These definitions are intended to provide a clear, concise explanation of the terms, and can be used as a starting point for further research and study. It is also important to note that the practical applications, examples, and challenges of these concepts, terms, and acronyms may vary depending on the specific context and research design.