This Slideshare will attempt to uncover some of the practical and theoretical approaches to using an interpreter during field-based research in a country, community or culture that is not that of the researcher.

1. Ashley
Honsberger
Candidate:
Masters in
Capacity
Development &
Extension,
International
Development
University of
Guelph
March, 2014
THE USE OF
INTERPRETERS IN
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
This Slideshare will attempt to uncover some of the
practical and theoretical approaches to using an interpreter
during field-based research in a country, community or
culture that is not that of the researcher.

2. INTRODUCTION
Using an interpreter in a community where you don‟t speak the language may be the only way
you are able to collect data. But what are some of the things to consider when doing so?
Here are some questions and assumptions to consider before we get started:
1. The interpreter I hired is a highly proficient English speaker as well as the language or
dialect where I will be researching, that’s all I need, right?
2. My research shows that the host culture has a really strong caste or social structure, but
that shouldn’t matter if I’m from abroad.
3. The translator seems professional and tells me what I need, so long as I write things down
accurately my data should be reliable.
4. My biases and power relation with the ‘participant’ is the most important thing to consider
when designing and conducting the interview.
What‟s the difference between an “interpreter” and a “translator”?
http://lrc.wfu.edu/community_interpreting/pages/translator-interpreter.htm

3. 1. The interpreter I hired is a highly proficient
English speaker as well as the language or dialect
where I will be researching, that’s all I need, right?
Wrong! Aside from the spoken language, other
elements for consideration during translation can
include:
 Gender (how gender roles influence responses)
 local culture/class/caste issues (how you, the
interpreter, and participant interact and interpret
each other)
 social considerations (whether the interpreter is
protecting the community or otherwise biased
towards participants)
Just like you, your interpreter has a worldview or lens
that can influence the information they collect from
participants and how they choose to interpret it on your
behalf.
Unless you have extensive cultural experience in your
host community, the interpreter may need to be more
than just someone who can translate spoken word…
Berman, R. and Tyska, V. (2011)
Murray, C.D. and Wynne, J. (2001)

4. When thinking about hiring an interpreter, ask
yourself, what do you need in an interpreter? Have
you prepared an adequate interview and training plan
to ensure you and your interpreter are starting from
the same page?
Similar to the bias you need to recognize in yourself
as a researcher, the interpreter is a key means of
collecting information from participants, and they
carry the same elements of bias with them in the
field.
Like any job or position, it is a good idea to
thoroughly interview your interpreter to get a handle
on their outlook, their personal biases, and their
level of understanding and experience with the topic
or area that you will be researching.
Furthermore, research can be a very involved process
both emotionally and mentally. Ensure your training
process involves orientation into the project, and a
thorough debrief afterwards. This gives both parties
the opportunity to share, reflect, and take care of any
unfinished feelings or ideas that are a natural part of
the research process.
You’re
hired!

5. 2. My research shows that the host culture has a
really strong caste or social hierarchy, but that
shouldn’t matter if I’m from abroad.
Both you and the interpreter may be new to the community
where you are basing your research, so gaining the trust
and understanding of the participants may prove
challenging. This is where it may be necessary to employ
what Berman and Tyska call either an „insider‟ or “cultural
expert”. In this case, the researcher is not the expert– the
interpreter is. They achieve expert status by:
 Offering insight into the community
 Appropriately interpreting how people respond
 Getting past the community “gatekeeper”
 Facilitating the community‟s perception of you
and your research
The idea of a „cultural interpreter‟ deepens the
importance of finding the right interpreter for
your project.
Three!
Berman, R. and Tyska, V. (2011)
Edwards, R. (1998)

6. 3. The interpreter seems professional and tells me what I
need, so long as I write things down accurately my data
should be reliable.
To set yourself up for scientific rigor and data collection
success, consider the following:
Roles and responsibilities: What is the role of the
interpreter in your interviews? Consider your theoretical
paradigm:
 Positivism views the interpreter as a mechanical medium
who is performing a technical act that requires you to
eliminate errors or changes to the data.
 Social constructivism sees the interpreter as a key
informant who is part of the process and who translates
actively and mediates the message coming from a
participant. In this case, it is important to know their
history, skills, and geographical location.
 A feminist approach is interested in reducing the power
hierarchies between individuals and moving towards
inclusivity during the research process.
Depending on your paradigm, the extent to which you
include your interpreter during the research design and
collection process will be effected.
Edwards, R. (1998)
Grossman, F.K et al, (1999)

7. Experience: does your interpreter understand the scientific
process you are attempting? Depending on how
participatory you wish the interview process to be you may
or may not consider this skillset to be of value.
Interview dynamics: During the interview it is important to
direct questions and responses to the individual whom you
are interviewing. This may mean the interpreter is a passive
part of the conversation (it may seem like you‟re ignoring
them!). Ensure you brief the interpreter on this ahead of
time, so as not to create hurt feelings or a sense of
disconnect. Focusing on the participant is of utmost
importance, to ensure they feel a sense of trust and comfort
in the process.
Is your interpreter really bilingual? This may seem like a
silly question, but it may be that the interpreter isn‟t quite
as bilingual as they have indicated, which will mean the
messages they are relaying to you aren‟t accurate. Hiring
from a reputable source, a university, from a personal
recommendation, or even a travel agency, could help you
find a really good interpreter.
Know
anyone?

8. Mitigating Action
DATA COLLECTION: THREATS TO VALIDITY
Threat Mitigating Action
No suitable word exists in the other language Translate for a response‟s meaning and not
literal or structural elements of the phrases.
Bias from cultural perspectives Researcher should acclimatize to the culture in
advance
Questions which are not „value free‟ The questions should also be culturally
translated for context accuracy
Interpreter takes „creative liberty‟ with responses Proper training will set appropriate expectations
for the interpreter
Note taking process is slow and cumbersome Consider recording interviews and translating
them, have more than one person translate the
interview
One on one interview elicits odd responses Consider a group setting where participants may
feel more free to share their real feelings and
thoughts
Do you translate the information then
transcribe, or the other way around?
The researcher must prepare the process of
translating information that best suits the
situation.
Grossman, F.K et al, (1999)

9. 4. My biases and power relation with the ‘participant’
is the most important thing to consider when
designing and conducting the interview.
Risk from the community: Translators who are
helping with research in their own community can be
put in a precarious position. It is important to
consider how you are viewed, how the interpreter is
viewed, and ensure your due-diligence includes
minimizing risk to those involved, particularly when
considering social dynamics of the community and
confidentiality.
Power in the middle: The interpreter is really the
medium through which a conversation is happening
between two people. They therefore can include,
omit, reword or further investigate what is being
said, but they are also put in the middle of the
issues being discussed which could be
uncomfortable or problematic for them
in the future. Berman, R. and Tyska, V. (2011)
Edwards, R. (1998)

10. It may help to consider…
 Can I get along with this person
for weeks (months?)
 Does this interpreter have
adequate cultural and language
bilingualism?
 What gender is most
appropriate for this research?
 What training, if any, should I
expect the interpreter to have
(experience abroad, language
training, graduate studies,
tourist guide)?
 Have I researched an
appropriate level of
remuneration for the
interpreter?
Before you get started…
 Have I adequately briefed my
interpreter to the goals and
objectives of the research?
 Have we covered enough “what
ifs”? (What if the participant
seems uncomfortable, how can we
address that?)
 If you are travelling around, what
is a reasonable work contract to
expect? (Hours per week,
remuneration, meals and lodging)
 Is it practical to voice record the
interviews or write them down?
 Have you ensured the interpreter
understands privacy implications?
 What is the debrief process for
when the research is complete?
THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF THINGS

11. REFERENCE
S
Berman, R. and Tyska, V. (2011) A critical reflection on the use of translators
/interpreters in a qualitative cross language research project. International Journal
of Research Methods, 178-190.
Edwards, R. (1998) A critical examination of the use of interpreters in the
qualitative research process. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 24, 197-208.
Grossman, F.K et al, (1999) Reflections on a feminist research project: Subjectivity
and the wish for intimacy and equality. Innovations in feminist psychological
research, 117-136.
Kapborg, C. et. Al. (2002) Using an interpreter in qualitative interviews: Does it
threaten validity? Nursing Inquiry, 9, 52-56.
Murray, C.D. and Wynne, J. (2001) Using an interpreter to research community,
work and family. Community, Work and Family, 4(2), 157-170.