Flerinformanttilnærming

Flerinformanttilnærming, often translated as the multi-informant approach, is a research methodology used across various disciplines, particularly in psychology and social sciences. It involves collecting data from multiple sources about a single subject or phenomenon. These sources can include self-reports, parent reports, teacher reports, peer reports, or observations by trained professionals. The core idea is that no single informant has a complete or unbiased view.

By gathering information from different perspectives, researchers aim to achieve a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of the subject's behavior, characteristics, or experiences. This approach helps to triangulate findings, meaning that when multiple informants report similar observations, the confidence in the validity of those observations increases. Conversely, discrepancies between informants can highlight important nuances, contextual influences, or potential biases.

The multi-informant approach is particularly valuable when studying complex constructs such as personality, mental health, or social interactions, where different individuals may perceive or interpret behaviors differently. While it offers significant advantages in terms of validity and richness of data, it also presents challenges. These include the potential for informant bias, the complexity of integrating diverse datasets, and the cost and time associated with collecting data from multiple sources. Nevertheless, its ability to provide a more holistic picture makes it a widely adopted and important research strategy.