 Dear students, we are studying mixed method research methodology and we talked about the sequential design in our previous modules and today we are going to study a concurrent triangulation design. So what is a concurrent triangulation design? Concurrent triangulation design is an approach in which the researcher collects both quantitative and qualitative data concurrently. It means to say that the researcher is conducting quantitative and qualitative studies at a time, that is, he is collecting his quantitative data at a time and on the other hand, he is collecting his qualitative data as well. It means, as we read in the sequential approach in its designs, first you collect data and then you go for the second data collection. This is not the case in the concurrent triangulation design, in fact, both of us are conducting studies separately at a time and we compare it the databases to determine if there is a convergence or confirmation, differences or disconfirmation, some combination or cross validation. When we collect the data in both studies, we conduct the analysis and by conducting the analysis of both studies, we then compare the results. We then compare the results of both of our studies, whether the results of both of our studies are converging with each other and they are confirming each other's findings, that is, if the findings of a qualitative study are aligned with the findings of a quantitative study, are they confirming it or not, and if there is any disconfirmation, then what is its logic and if they are confirming it, then its validation happens. If I talk about the characteristics, this model uses separate methods as a mean to offset the weakness inherent within one method with the strength of other. When we use this model, we actually use it with the motivation that we are going to manage the weaknesses of one study design by using the other. That is, if there is a weakness in our quantitative study, then we will address it with a qualitative study and if there is a weakness in our qualitative study, then we will address it with a quantitative study. As you can see in this picture, both of them are collecting data at the same time and the weight is equal between the two methods. We do not prioritize one method, either quantitative or qualitative. We give equal weight to both of them. Both studies are important for us. The mixing is integrative in nature. We try to integrate the data with the help of the results of both studies. What are the advantages of concurrent triangulation design? This design is a concurrent in nature. It means to say that we collect the data at one time, so we need lesser time for the data collection as compared to the sequential approaches. Findings are well-validated and substantiated because quantitative and qualitative study findings inform each other. This is more of their significance. If I talk about the disadvantages of this design, it requires great effort and expertise to educate the study of phenomena with two separate methods. For example, the overall issue of MMR is that a specific set of skills are required for quantitative research and for qualitative research as well. If you are doing MMR, you need both kinds of skills. It also can be difficult to compare the results of two analysis using data of different forms. On the one hand, you have verbatims and on the other hand, you have facts and figures. So, you need to carefully and amicably integrate the data. The researcher may face a problem to resolve discrepancies that arise in comparing the results. There is quite a possibility that when you are comparing and integrating the data, you may find any discrepancies. Then how do you answer those discrepancies? It actually is dependent on your research skills. So, this is a brief overview of the concurrent triangulation design of mixed method research.