Positionality in Public Service Interpreting Research

Abstract

Research on public service interpreting employs a number of methods to examine a range of variables, from specific linguistic and paralinguistic variables to spatial positioning, agency, and ethics. These methods, however, require explicit recognition of the researcher’s positionality in order to ensure appropriate data analysis and interpretation of results. This article examines the unique aspects of the interpreting studies research that requires reflection when conducting work in this area. Two specific types of bias, namely social desirability bias and the Hawthorne effect, are discussed in detail to illustrate the type of reflective practice required to ensure valid, reliable, and credible results. The article concludes with a brief reflection on how positionality may be a starting point for discussion surrounding the agency of the researcher.Resumen: La investigación en interpretación en los servicios públicos utiliza varios métodos para examinar distintas variables, entre las cuales se incluyen elementos lingüísticos y paralingüísticos, el posicionamiento espacial, la agencia y la ética. No obstante, dichos métodos requieren un reconocimiento explícito de la posicionalidad del investigador para asegurar el adecuado análisis de los datos y una interpretación apropiada de los resultados. Este artículo examina los aspectos particulares de la investigación dedicada a los estudios de la interpretación que requieren reflexión al investigar en este campo. En concreto, se tratan dos tipos de sesgos —el sesgo de deseabilidad social y el efecto Hawthorne— para ilustrar la clase de práctica reflexiva que se requiere para posibilitar resultados fiables y válidos. Se concluye con un comentario sobre cómo la posicionalidad puede constituir un punto de partida para discutir la agencia del investigador/a.

Integrated monolingualism and audism governing Spanish Sign-Language users’ self-determination in the legal system

“…Measures to mitigate the influence of the authors' positionality in designing the study and interpreting the results (Mellinger 2020) were needed on a minimum of three counts. First, both authors are hearing.…”

Informed Consent

“…The potential over-and underestimation of reputational risks by participants, makes it important for the researcher to understand what those risks might be in a certain community, their consequences, and how to mitigate them. Evaluating reputational risks requires in-depth knowledge of the field studied, and also of one's own position in that field (Mellinger, 2020).…”

“…As different aspects of research ethics gain ground in human sciences in general and also in interpreting studies (Mellinger, 2020), the issue of informed consent becomes more pertinent. I have previously discussed the issue of the interpreter as a researcher and its possible implications on research ethics (Tiselius, 2019).…”

Book review: The Routledge Handbook of Sign Language Translation and Interpreting

“…acknowledged as important to disclose one's positionality as a researcher (Mellinger, 2020) and educator (Webb et al, in press). Deaf scholars and interpreters are gaining deserved recognition in the SLTI field, so it was surprising that the Handbook did not explicitly highlight deaf contributors.…”

“…I personally know that two editors are deaf, although they did not state it in their biographies. The deaf or hearing status of contributors is relevant, as in translation and interpreting (T&I) studies, it is now acknowledged as important to disclose one’s positionality as a researcher (Mellinger, 2020) and educator (Webb et al, in press). Deaf scholars and interpreters are gaining deserved recognition in the SLTI field, so it was surprising that the Handbook did not explicitly highlight deaf contributors.…”