The best of two worlds: Between-method triangulation in gendered labour market research (SOAS Working Paper. London)

Abstract Assumptions applied in Orthodox Economic methods are criticised for being an inadequate depiction of reality. This is particularly the case from the perspective of Feminist Economics. Gender biases are reflected in the quantitative data sources and methods commonly applied for economic research. These include male biases in statistical data, a focus on outcomes rather than processes as well as the neglect of reproductive work and its interaction with market work. To overcome these problems, this paper introduces between-method triangulation, i.e. the combination of quantitative and qualitative methods of data generation and analysis, as an innovative and more realistic methodology to conduct gendered economic analysis. It draws on the authors’ recent empirical work on the Indonesian and Mauritian labour markets where between-method triangulation was employed. The approach is shown to be able to enhance empirical economic analysis by mutually validating results. Furthermore, the approach is shown to remove gender biases in economic analysis by analysing conflicting evidence and by complementing quantitative with qualitative findings in light of feminist economics theory.