Int J Pharm Pract 1999:7:60-8

Centre for Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29/39 Brunswick Square, London, England WC1N 1AX
Felicity Smith, PhD, MRPharmS, senior lecturer in pharmacy practice

fsmith@cua.ulsop.ac.uk

health services research methods in pharmacy

Triangulation

FELICITY SMITH

There are many examples of studies in which pharmacy practice researchers have combined different types of data, methods and approaches within a single research project. Although a common practice in research across many disciplines, concerns have been expressed over combining methods underpinned by different philosophical assumptions and conceptual frameworks. The choice of methods made by pharmacy researchers is generally governed by practical considerations of the research and data requirements for fulfilling research objectives rather than these theoretical concerns. This review of the pharmacy practice research literature demonstrates how a wide variety of methods have been combined for different purposes and in a variety of study designs.