Keeping Track: Triangulating Methods to Measure the Food Environment: A Pilot Study

This article explores the potential of using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to capture valuable data in measuring food environments. Such data, when triangulated with more conventional methods of collection, for example daily 24-hour dietary recalls and food purchase receipts, allow researchers to gain a fuller picture of individual activity in dynamic food environments. This is vital to understanding both individual and environmental factors that influence individuals’ decision and behaviour patterns within food environments. However, the practicalities of triangulating data collection methods are challenging to both researchers and participants, and so a pilot study was undertaken to test different methods of measuring the food environment. Recruitment for the pilot study took place between August and September 2017 and of the 16 participants initially recruited, 13 took part and completed all data collection methods and provided valuable feedback about the experience. The participants’ perspectives on the process of triangulating methods, along with the findings, are discussed in the paper.

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