Translating survey questionnaires: Lessons learned

McKay, Ruth; Breslow, Martha; Sangster, Roberta L.; Gabbard, Susan; Reynolds, Robert W.; Nakamoto, Jorge M.; Tarnai, John

doi:10.1002/ev.1037

Cited by 57 publications

(33 citation statements)

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“…Therefore, for investigations in which constraints on the source version are less severe than for the TUSCS-CPS, we advocate the practice of decentering (McKay, et al, 1996;Werner & Campbell, 1970), in which the original questionnaire is considered to be open to modification, based on results obtained through testing of the translations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rather, survey translation is a complex endeavor requiring the development and implementation of a number of careful practices (Brislin, 1970;Census Bureau, 2004;Harkness & Schoua-Glusberg, 1998;Harkness, Van de Vijver & Mohler, 2003;McKay, et al, 1996;Ponce, et al, 2004). Most vexing are the severe challenges to creating survey questionnaires that exhibit the key characteristic of cross-cultural comparability of results (Miller, 2004;Pan & de la Puente, 2005;Schmidt & Bullinger, 2003;Singelis, et al, 2006;Yu, Lee, & Woo, 2004).…”

Section: Challenges To Translation and Establishment Of Cross-culturamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Especially because many members of these sub-populations are linguistically isolated, and cannot complete a questionnaire in English, researchers must develop questionnaires that are both linguistically and culturally appropriate (Behling & Law, 2000;Goerman, 2006;Ji, Schwarz, & Nisbett, 2000;Johnson, 1988Johnson, , 2006Harkness & Schoua-Glusberg, 1998;Martinez,, Marín, & Schoua-Glusberg, 2006;McKay, et al, 1996;Rogler, 1999;Stewart & Nápoles-Springer, 2000;Warnecke, et al, 1997). Several large population surveys, such as the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), have begun to include a range of languages (Ponce, et al, 2004).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Translation of a tobacco survey into Spanish and Asian languages: The Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey

Willis

Lawrence

Hartman

et al. 2008

Nicotine & Tobacco Res.

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Because of the vital need to attain cross-cultural comparability of estimates of tobacco use across subgroups of the U.S. population that differ in primary language use, the NCI Tobacco Use Special Cessation Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUSCS-CPS) was translated into Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Korean, Vietnamese, and Khmer (Cambodian). The questionnaire translations were extensively tested using an eight-step process that focused on both translation procedures and empirical pretesting. The resulting translations are available on the Internet (at http://riskfactor.cancer.gov/studies/tus-cps/translation/questionnaires.html) for tobacco researchers to use in their own surveys, either in full, or as material to be selected as appropriate. This manuscript provides information to guide researchers in accessing and using the translations, and describes the empirical procedures used to develop and pretest them (cognitive interviewing and behavior coding). We also provide recommendations concerning the further development of questionnaire translations.In order to estimate patterns of tobacco use in the United States, it is vital to assess behavior accurately across a range of racial and ethnic minority groups. Especially because many members of these sub-populations are linguistically isolated, and cannot complete a questionnaire in English, researchers must develop questionnaires that are both linguistically

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Challenges To Translation and Establishment Of Cross-culturamentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Translation of a tobacco survey into Spanish and Asian languages: The Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey

Willis

Lawrence

Hartman

et al. 2008

Nicotine & Tobacco Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Before ending this discussion, it is important to note that while some researchers have recommended the use of a second translation process in order to back translate into the original language to ensure the quality of the initial translation process, others oppose this method and describe it as an expensive task that doesn´t solve the problem completely [4,17].…”

Section: The Translation Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Issues and strategies for conducting cross-national e-government comparative research

Gharawi

Pardo

Guerrero

2009

Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance

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This paper addresses and discusses the central issues that researchers have to deal with when conducting crossnational comparative research within the area of egovernment. The issues are classified into two main categories. The first category represents the issues and challenges that may affect the reliability and the quality of data being collected for comparative studies. The second category represents the remaining issues related to the research objective, the selection process of countries and the analytical strategy. The paper discusses the major alternatives of these issues and provides a rationale for the selection process among them. The paper concludes by discussing the interrelations between the identified issues and clarifying the main decisions that researchers have to take when conducting cross-national comparative research.

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“…According to McKay et al (1996), back-translation entails three stages. First, the instrument is translated from the source language to the target language; second, the target instrument is translated back into the source language; and finally, the original and back-translated versions are compared to verify accuracy of the target instrument.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validating the Response Process of the Spanish Version of the Short Sensory Profile: A Pilot Study Using Cognitive Interviews

Otr

2010

Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervent

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The Short Sensory Profile (SSP) is one of the only sensory processing tools available in Spanish, making it viable for use with a Puerto Rican population. The Spanish version of this tool was translated using standard back-translation, but there have been no published studies conducted with the Spanish Short Sensory Profile (S-SSP) to verify reliability and validity. The purpose of this pilot work was to examine the evidence of validity based on response process of the S-SSP. Evidence based on response process entails asking subjects about strategies used when responding to particular items to assess the fit between those strategies and the construct being measured. Cognitive interviews, a strategy to study the manner in which targeted audiences understand, mentally process, and respond to the materials presented, were conducted with 8 Puerto Rican mothers from both low-and middle-high-income families. Thematic analysis indicated some items caused confusion among respondents, suggesting that researchers using this tool may need to provide additional guidance to the respondents while answering the questionnaire to ensure accuracy of interpretation of items. Overall, the S-SSP was found to be a useful tool when administered to Puerto Rican caregivers.

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Translating survey questionnaires: Lessons learned

Abstract: f i e rapid increase in non-English-speaking populations within the United States dictates the needfor well-translated instruments to reduce nonresponse and measurement error in surveys.

Cited by 57 publications

References 1 publication

Translation of a tobacco survey into Spanish and Asian languages: The Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey

Translation of a tobacco survey into Spanish and Asian languages: The Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey

Issues and strategies for conducting cross-national e-government comparative research

Validating the Response Process of the Spanish Version of the Short Sensory Profile: A Pilot Study Using Cognitive Interviews

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