Paper
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Issues of Translation and Conceptual Equivalence for Research with Immigrants
Arlene Michaels Miller, PhD, RN and Olga Sorokin, MPH. College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
There are important methodological considerations for instrument development when conducting research with immigrant populations. Although many concepts are pertinent across cultures, they may be manifested differently or be easily misunderstood if rigorous methods of translation are not used. Translation of documents such as questionnaires, instructions, and informed consents generate complex challenges that go beyond language differences. In particular, differences in values and assumptions make it essential to ensure conceptual equivalence and appropriateness to the population. This paper will identify challenges encountered when conducting research with immigrants for whom both language and cultural values may differ from those in which instruments were developed. Problems encountered during translation, administration, and data analysis of a battery of self-report questionnaires from a study of immigrants from the former Soviet Union will be used as specific examples. The purpose of the study was to examine the longitudinal impact of family adaptation, health behavior, and stress management on the relationship between acculturation and health status. The sample included 226 midlife women and 154 of their husbands. Women were interviewed at baseline and 3 annual sessions; husbands had two data collection sessions. Selected issues such as dealing with idioms and metaphors, items regarding intimacy and other sensitive topics, concepts that do not exist in other cultures, and measuring acculturation will be addressed. In addition, culturally-specific issues relating to response bias and trust in a sample of people who have lived in a country with a Communist government will be raised. Guidelines for choosing translation methods and translators will be suggested, and qualitative and quantitative methods for assessing adequacy of translation and performance of instruments across cultures will be demonstrated. Other symposium presenters will discuss ways these challenges were addressed in their research studies with Mexican and Arab immigrants.