Making the Most of Retrospective Process Tracing in Dialogue Interpreting Research

Abstract

Retrospective verbal process tracing is a popular research method in Interpreting Studies, employed by a growing number of scholars, particularly in studies of conference interpreting, but, to date, it has not been widely employed in studies of dialogue interpreting. This paper begins by introducing process-tracing methodologies, defining types of verbal process tracing, and presenting a brief critical review of publications employing this research methodology. The bulk of the article provides concrete, practical information and guidance for scholars of dialogue interpreting who are interested in employing retrospective process tracing in their research. We discuss the theoretical underpinnings of the method, methodological considerations that must be taken into account in the design and procedure of such studies, data analysis and reporting on the basis of retrospective process tracing, and recommendations for best practices.Resumen: El seguimiento retrospectivo verbal de procesos se utiliza cada vez más en los Estudios de Interpretación, sobre todo en la interpretación de conferencias. Con todo, este método se ha utilizado poco hasta la fecha en el campo de la interpretación bilateral. En la primera parte de este artículo, presentaremos los métodos de seguimiento de procesos, definiremos los tipos de seguimiento verbal de procesos y examinaremos brevemente algunos estudios que han empleado estos métodos. El objetivo principal es ofrecer recomendaciones concretas y prácticas que puedan resultar útiles para aquellos investigadores en interpretación bilateral que se interesen por estos métodos. Presentaremos las bases teóricas, las consideraciones metodológicas relevantes para el diseño y el procedimiento de tales estudios, el proceso de análisis y presentación de los datos obtenidos a través del seguimiento retrospectivo y algunas recomendaciones de buenas prácticas.

Exploring positionality management in complex interpreting interactions: a simulation method

“…Our study is also inspired by studies employing post-task interviews using retrospective process tracing methods (see Herring, 2019), which have been mostly used in the field of conference interpreting and much less in PSI (see Herring & Tiselius, 2020, for a thorough examination of these methods and what they entail). Therefore, an interview (see Appendix 2), which followed the same protocol consistently across participants with a scripted set of instructions, was held with the participants immediately after the simulations.…”