The National Archive of Grief Support Studies
The National Archive of Grief Support Studies(NAGSS) database provides bibliographical information and summaries of recent articles selected for their relevance to grief and bereavement service providers. The articles that are summarized are selected from scholarly, peer-reviewed journals and are intended to highlight key concepts as well as provide a brief statement of implications for service providers. Bibliographical information may be used to obtain the original article.
Implementing a Triangulation Protocol in Bereavement Research: A Methodological Discussion
Authors:
Briller, Sherlyn H.
Meert, Kathleen L.
Schim, Stephanie Myers
Thurston, Celia S.
Source:
Omega: 2008. Volume 57, Issue 3, pp. 245-260.
Summary
This article focuses on a discussion of the use of triangulation in bereavement research. The authors note that triangulation is a research methodology that can add value to research findings in fields such as bereavement, where diversity in experiences and complexity of issues are common. For this article, the authors used triangulation methods to develop a typology of bereaved parents’ needs. Triangulation methods used in the study included: multiple data collection strategies, multiple investigators, use of different theoretical paradigms, and use of perspectives from individuals with different occupational backgrounds. The authors developed a typology of parental needs, which included the need to maintain a connection with the dying child, the need for personal support, the need to grieve, and the need to find some meaning in the child’s death. The authors state that the use of triangulation methods enriched the typology they constructed, and recommend the use of triangulation for bereavement research.
Key words: research, triangulation, support, meaning
Service Provider Implications
This article provides information useful to service providers who are seeking to help bereaved parents. The authors identify a range of needs experienced by parents, including a need for continuing connection with their child, personal and professional support, honest communications from service providers, privacy, support for their grief, and support in the process of developing a sense of meaning. The article also identifies the value of triangulation methods for bereavement research.
