Difference between revisions of "Questionnaire Translation"
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<onlyinclude>'''Questionnaire translation''' refers to the process of translating [[Field Surveys|survey instruments (or questionnaires)]] into all local language(s) of the study area. It is an essential step in conducting a high quality survey. | <onlyinclude>'''Questionnaire translation''' refers to the process of translating [[Field Surveys|survey instruments (or questionnaires)]] into all local language(s) of the study area. It is an essential step in conducting a high quality survey. Incomplete or inaccurate translations can, at best, result in loss in nuance intended by the research team, and at worst, completely change the meaning of a question. It can undo all the work that goes into [[Questionnaire Design|designing]] carefully-worded questionnaires.</onlyinclude> | ||
== Read First == | == Read First == | ||
*The research team should set aside time for '''back translation''', | *The research team should set aside sufficient time for each of the steps involved in translation- '''forward translation''', '''back translation''', '''reconciliation''', as well as '''validation by enumerators'''. | ||
*Questionnaires often go through multiple stages of translation and back-translation. Therefore, '''version control''' is important, as it involves maintaining copies of each version during the translation process, so that no information is lost. | *Questionnaires often go through multiple stages of translation and back-translation. Therefore, '''version control''' is important, as it involves maintaining copies of each version during the translation process, so that no information is lost. | ||
*Keep in mind that having enumerators translate on the go is | *Keep in mind that having enumerators translate on the go is not recommended either, as consistency and accuracy of translation can vary across enumerators. | ||
''Note: This section assumes that the working language of the research team is different from the local language(s) in the study area.'' | ''Note: This section assumes that the working language of the research team is different from the local language(s) in the study area.'' | ||
== Guidelines == | == Guidelines == | ||
Researchers must keep | Researchers must keep complete, back-translated versions for all questions in the survey instrument, and share these with enumerators during [[Enumerator Training|enumerator training]]. This is important to guarantee consistency and helps avoid the problem of '''enumerator effects''', which arise due to differences in the way a question is asked to each respondent because each enumerator shared a different translation of the same question. | ||
=== Translation process === | === Translation process === | ||
Lack of proper due diligence during the translation process can cause delays, confusion | Lack of proper due diligence during the translation process can cause delays, confusion and field errors, and can potentially lead to inaccurate [[Primary Data Collection|data collection]]. Researchers must remember that effective or accurate translation takes time - so they should allocate a significant amount of time (at least '''two weeks''')for this, as well as for editing and reviewing the translations. | ||
Researchers often rely on a [[Piloting Survey Content|content-focused pilot]] to gain valuable | Researchers often rely on a [[Piloting Survey Content|content-focused pilot]] to gain valuable feedback on the questionnaire. After finalizing and agreeing upon the [[Questionnaire Design|contents]] of the questionnaire, follow these steps for translation: | ||
# '''Forward translation''': This refers to the translation from the language of the research team to the local language(s). This process can take a | # '''Forward translation''': This refers to the translation from the language of the research team to the local language(s). This process can take a few days to a few weeks, depending on the complexity of the questions in the survey instrument. | ||
# '''Back translation''': Once researchers receive the first translation, they send the local language version | # '''Back translation''': Once researchers receive the first translation, they send only the local language version to a different translator, who translates it back to the language of the research team. | ||
# '''Reconciliation''': This refers to the process of comparing the original questionnaire to the '''back-translated''' questionnaire. In this stage, researchers should highlight any discrepancies, and categorize them as either | # '''Reconciliation''': This refers to the process of comparing the original questionnaire to the '''back-translated''' questionnaire. In this stage, researchers should highlight any discrepancies, and categorize them as either minor (like wording issues), or significant (like changes in the meaning of a question). | ||
In practice, | In practice, the research team can organize a meeting with the two translators to discuss all discrepancies and agree on a final translation. During this meeting, someone from the research team should keep track of all questions where significant content concerns were noted. This will allow the research team to discuss these with local counterparts in the next stage to ensure that the final wording reflects the original intent. | ||
For example, consider a questionnaire to be '''fielded''' (shared with respondents) in Malawi to a Chichewa-speaking population. The research team finalizes an English version of the questionnaire. It is then '''forward-translated''' from English to Chichewa. The Chichewa version is then shared with a second translator for '''back translation''' from Chichewa to English. The two English versions are compared, and then the two versions are discussed to '''reconcile''' all discrepancies. | |||
=== Translators === | === Translators === | ||
Accurate translation requires significant time and skill. The following are the global best practices for hiring translators: | |||
#Researchers should only work with a professional translator who has sector-specific knowledge | #Researchers should only work with a professional translator who has sector-specific knowledge and experience in translating surveys. | ||
#The | #The mother tongue of the forward translator should be the local language. Similarly, the mother tongue of the back translator should be the language of the research team. | ||
#Researchers should cross-check all technical terminology with local counterparts who are well-versed in the area of the project. | #Researchers should cross-check all technical terminology with local counterparts who are well-versed in the subject area of the project. For example, for agricultural surveys, this would involve double-checking translations of specific technologies with local agricultural officers and other experts. | ||
Sometimes researchers might be tempted to assign the job of translation to people who are not professional translators. Given below are the | Sometimes researchers might be tempted to assign the job of translation to people who are not professional translators. Given below are the alternatives along with the reasons for not hiring them as translators: | ||
* '''Survey firm manager''' | * '''Survey firm manager'''. The manager of the [[Survey Firm|survey firm]] has a range of responsibilities, and they oversee the overall process of conducting a [[Field Surveys|survey]]. They would neither have sufficient time, nor the sector-specific knowledge required for efficient translation. However, it would be a good idea to have a person within the research team who can coordinate with the professional translator. | ||
* '''Government officials from relevant departments''' | * '''Government officials from relevant departments'''. This can include someone like the local agricultural officer we mentioned earlier. While they may have the relevant sector-specific knowledge, they may not be able to give enough time to the task of translation, unless they are released from their primary duties. These local officials are better suited for the purpose of cross-checking translations of technical words, and ensure that the context is not lost in translation. | ||
* '''Local consultant without translation experience''': Translation is a challenging process, and we have already discussed the harms of an | * '''Local consultant without translation experience''': Translation is a challenging process, and we have already discussed the harms of an incomplete or inaccurate translation. Being fluent in the relevant languages is not a sufficient requirement, because the task of translation requires written fluency as well. | ||
Finally, | Finally, the research team must ensure that the back translator has no professional or personal relation to the first translator. This is important because power dynamics between the two translators could affect decisions made during the '''reconciliation''' stage. For example''', if one translator is an employee of the other translator or significantly lower in government hierarchy, it might result in a compromise which will affect the quality of the translation. | ||
===Version control=== | ===Version control=== | ||
Researchers can expect to make several corrections and refinements to the questionnaire throughout the translation process. This can also involve performing more than one [[Survey Pilot|data-focused pilot]] | Researchers can expect to make several corrections and refinements to the questionnaire throughout the translation process. This can also involve performing more than one [[Survey Pilot|data-focused pilot]] and changing the questionnaire that is used in each pilot. | ||
For instance , consider a study that aims to evaluate the impact of providing mid-day meals in government schools in India. The study could end up with low response rates because respondents did not interpret a question correctly. Low response rates can in turn result in [[Sample Size and Power Calculations#Read First|underpowered calculations]]. In this case, researchers should work with field coordinators and translators to draft a more accurate version that respondents can understand clearly. | |||
It is also a good idea to discuss the discrepancies in translation during | It is also a good idea to discuss the discrepancies in translation during '''enumerator training''' as another level of check on the final translation. Enumerators can provide feedback based on their own experience, a process that is often referred to as '''validation'''. It is also important to have at least one bilingual staff member to carefully record all corrections that are made throughout the different stage. This last step is also useful for the purpose of [[Data Documentation|documentation]]. | ||
Editing and refining the translations several times can often lead to '''version control issues'''. To avoid these, we recommend that the paper version of the questionnaire used for '''enumerator training''' should print the questions in the original language''', as well as all local languages, side-by-side. This makes it easier to make a note of all corrections or refinements that are needed, without worrying about inconsistency across different versions. | |||
=== Oral interviews === | === Oral interviews === | ||
For oral interviews, such as [[Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI)|computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI)]], researchers will need accurate | For oral interviews, such as [[Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI)|computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI)]], researchers will need accurate oral translations, rather than written translations. The research team should keep a few extra things in mind in this case. | ||
#Extend the duration of | #Extend the duration of the '''enumerator training '''to spend more time on oral translations. | ||
#During the training process, researchers can ask more than one person to suggest translations for each question. Everyone can then discuss each suggestion, and agree on a final version as a group. | #During the training process, researchers can ask more than one person to suggest translations for each question. Everyone can then discuss each suggestion, and agree on a final version as a group. | ||
#It is a good practice to leave some space on the paper version of the questionnaire. Enumerators can use this space to write the | #It is a good practice to leave some space on the paper version of the questionnaire. Enumerators can use this space to write the translated versions of each question. | ||
#Enumerators should also spend extra time on mock interviews | #Enumerators should also spend extra time on mock interviews and focus on collecting feedback on the quality of the translation. | ||
== Back to Parent == | == Back to Parent == | ||
Revision as of 17:08, 30 March 2020
Questionnaire translation refers to the process of translating survey instruments (or questionnaires) into all local language(s) of the study area. It is an essential step in conducting a high quality survey. Incomplete or inaccurate translations can, at best, result in loss in nuance intended by the research team, and at worst, completely change the meaning of a question. It can undo all the work that goes into designing carefully-worded questionnaires.
Read First
- The research team should set aside sufficient time for each of the steps involved in translation- forward translation, back translation, reconciliation, as well as validation by enumerators.
- Questionnaires often go through multiple stages of translation and back-translation. Therefore, version control is important, as it involves maintaining copies of each version during the translation process, so that no information is lost.
- Keep in mind that having enumerators translate on the go is not recommended either, as consistency and accuracy of translation can vary across enumerators.
Note: This section assumes that the working language of the research team is different from the local language(s) in the study area.
Guidelines
Researchers must keep complete, back-translated versions for all questions in the survey instrument, and share these with enumerators during enumerator training. This is important to guarantee consistency and helps avoid the problem of enumerator effects, which arise due to differences in the way a question is asked to each respondent because each enumerator shared a different translation of the same question.
Translation process
Lack of proper due diligence during the translation process can cause delays, confusion and field errors, and can potentially lead to inaccurate data collection. Researchers must remember that effective or accurate translation takes time - so they should allocate a significant amount of time (at least two weeks)for this, as well as for editing and reviewing the translations.
Researchers often rely on a content-focused pilot to gain valuable feedback on the questionnaire. After finalizing and agreeing upon the contents of the questionnaire, follow these steps for translation:
- Forward translation: This refers to the translation from the language of the research team to the local language(s). This process can take a few days to a few weeks, depending on the complexity of the questions in the survey instrument.
- Back translation: Once researchers receive the first translation, they send only the local language version to a different translator, who translates it back to the language of the research team.
- Reconciliation: This refers to the process of comparing the original questionnaire to the back-translated questionnaire. In this stage, researchers should highlight any discrepancies, and categorize them as either minor (like wording issues), or significant (like changes in the meaning of a question).
In practice, the research team can organize a meeting with the two translators to discuss all discrepancies and agree on a final translation. During this meeting, someone from the research team should keep track of all questions where significant content concerns were noted. This will allow the research team to discuss these with local counterparts in the next stage to ensure that the final wording reflects the original intent.
For example, consider a questionnaire to be fielded (shared with respondents) in Malawi to a Chichewa-speaking population. The research team finalizes an English version of the questionnaire. It is then forward-translated from English to Chichewa. The Chichewa version is then shared with a second translator for back translation from Chichewa to English. The two English versions are compared, and then the two versions are discussed to reconcile all discrepancies.
Translators
Accurate translation requires significant time and skill. The following are the global best practices for hiring translators:
- Researchers should only work with a professional translator who has sector-specific knowledge and experience in translating surveys.
- The mother tongue of the forward translator should be the local language. Similarly, the mother tongue of the back translator should be the language of the research team.
- Researchers should cross-check all technical terminology with local counterparts who are well-versed in the subject area of the project. For example, for agricultural surveys, this would involve double-checking translations of specific technologies with local agricultural officers and other experts.
Sometimes researchers might be tempted to assign the job of translation to people who are not professional translators. Given below are the alternatives along with the reasons for not hiring them as translators:
- Survey firm manager. The manager of the survey firm has a range of responsibilities, and they oversee the overall process of conducting a survey. They would neither have sufficient time, nor the sector-specific knowledge required for efficient translation. However, it would be a good idea to have a person within the research team who can coordinate with the professional translator.
- Government officials from relevant departments. This can include someone like the local agricultural officer we mentioned earlier. While they may have the relevant sector-specific knowledge, they may not be able to give enough time to the task of translation, unless they are released from their primary duties. These local officials are better suited for the purpose of cross-checking translations of technical words, and ensure that the context is not lost in translation.
- Local consultant without translation experience: Translation is a challenging process, and we have already discussed the harms of an incomplete or inaccurate translation. Being fluent in the relevant languages is not a sufficient requirement, because the task of translation requires written fluency as well.
Finally, the research team must ensure that the back translator has no professional or personal relation to the first translator. This is important because power dynamics between the two translators could affect decisions made during the reconciliation stage. For example, if one translator is an employee of the other translator or significantly lower in government hierarchy, it might result in a compromise which will affect the quality of the translation.
Version control
Researchers can expect to make several corrections and refinements to the questionnaire throughout the translation process. This can also involve performing more than one data-focused pilot and changing the questionnaire that is used in each pilot.
For instance , consider a study that aims to evaluate the impact of providing mid-day meals in government schools in India. The study could end up with low response rates because respondents did not interpret a question correctly. Low response rates can in turn result in underpowered calculations. In this case, researchers should work with field coordinators and translators to draft a more accurate version that respondents can understand clearly.
It is also a good idea to discuss the discrepancies in translation during enumerator training as another level of check on the final translation. Enumerators can provide feedback based on their own experience, a process that is often referred to as validation. It is also important to have at least one bilingual staff member to carefully record all corrections that are made throughout the different stage. This last step is also useful for the purpose of documentation.
Editing and refining the translations several times can often lead to version control issues. To avoid these, we recommend that the paper version of the questionnaire used for enumerator training should print the questions in the original language, as well as all local languages, side-by-side. This makes it easier to make a note of all corrections or refinements that are needed, without worrying about inconsistency across different versions.
Oral interviews
For oral interviews, such as computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI), researchers will need accurate oral translations, rather than written translations. The research team should keep a few extra things in mind in this case.
- Extend the duration of the enumerator training to spend more time on oral translations.
- During the training process, researchers can ask more than one person to suggest translations for each question. Everyone can then discuss each suggestion, and agree on a final version as a group.
- It is a good practice to leave some space on the paper version of the questionnaire. Enumerators can use this space to write the translated versions of each question.
- Enumerators should also spend extra time on mock interviews and focus on collecting feedback on the quality of the translation.
Back to Parent
This article redirects from field surveys
Additional Resources
- DIME Analytics (World Bank), Guidelines on Survey Design and Pilot