Renier Steyn, Pumela Msweli
Abstract
Conceptual clarity is fundamental to the advancement of scholarly dialogue and scientific progress. Without robust definitions, scholars are ill-equipped to build upon one another’s work, develop theory, design valid measurements, or influence practice. This article aims to demonstrate how a triangulation design can sharpen construct clarity on Ubuntu. Guided by the logic of convergence, four complementary studies (drawing on a pool of qualitative definitions, psychometric item sets, factor-analytic results, and a systematic text analysis of 50 articles) were integrated. Through this triangulated approach, a set of convergent elements (dignity-respect, empathy-compassion, and relational interconnectedness) was identified, forming the nucleus of a Ubuntu definition. Complementary elements (collective survival and Sub-Saharan provenance) were retained to enrich the conceptualisation. Emergent elements, not corroborated across sources, were excluded. The working definition demonstrated high thematic consistency across epistemologically diverse studies, supporting a critical-realist perspective that partial insights can approximate a more comprehensive understanding of reality. This study contributes to concept-building methodology by illustrating how triangulation can move scholarship beyond abstract rhetoric toward empirically grounded insights.