Back translation is the technique most commonly used to check the accuracy of translation in survey research. Although it results in a direct or literal translation, it does not address issues of conceptual equivalence. Furthermore, if it is not combined with pretesting, it does not address issues of comprehension and meaning to the respondent. This article discusses some of the problems of relying exclusively on back translation in isolation. It suggests the use of a collaborative, iterative approach for translating questionnaires for international marketing research.

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A new methodological approach for examining the impact of country of origin on product evaluations is proposed. It takes the form of a multiattribute attitudinal model analyzed by means of a system of simultaneous equations. This approach makes possible examination of the impact of other attributes as well as country of origin on evaluations, and takes into consideration the effect of familiarity and knowledge about the product class. Differences between respondents of two different national origins are also investigated because previous research indicates differences in country stereotyping by nationality.

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International marketing research plays a vital role as firms expand globally. Yet limited attention has been paid to the conceptual underpinnings of research needed to guide expansion. This article focuses on these issues and specifically examines the conceptual framework that guides research, the geographic units of analysis, and the constructs. The authors suggest two alternative approaches to organizing cross-cultural research: the adapted etic and the linked emic.