Contextualizing the Survey: Linked Trajectory of Method Triangulation in a Study on HIV/AIDS in India

Ajay Bailey, University of Groningen
Inge Hutter, University of Groningen

We suggest a linked trajectory of method triangulation which aims to first gather individual level information through in-depth interviews and then present excerpts from in-depth interviews as vignettes in focus group discussions (FGD) as a projective technique to stimulate discussion. In FGD we validate information obtained from in-depth interviews and gather emic concepts that arise from the interaction. We thus capture both interpretation and interaction angles of the qualitative method. Further, using the qualitative information gained, a survey is designed. We employed linked trajectory of method triangulation in a study on Risk assessment of HIV/AIDS among migrant and mobile men in Goa, India (2004-05). Data include in-depth interviews (25), focus group discussions (16) and survey (N=1259). We present two concepts cultural heuristics and perceived severity of HIV/AIDS to show how they emerged from the data. The linked trajectory of method triangulation can provide both completeness and confirmation of information.