Lost in interpretation: The use of interpreters in research on mental ill health

Karin Ingvarsdotter, Sara Johnsdotter and Margareta Östman

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2012, vol. 58, issue 1, 34-40

Abstract: Background : The literature concerning interpretation in research primarily concentrates on rigorous techniques to eliminate bias. This article analyses other significant issues that arise when interpreters participate in research. Material : Empirical examples are drawn from a research project concerning mental ill health in a multicultural neighbourhood. Discussion : Interpreters influence interview data in ways commonly unnoticed by researchers. One often-overlooked factor is that languages are dynamic and interpreters are not instruments. Conclusion : Research conducted with an interpreter is a complex undertaking. Solely relying on checklists to improve methodological rigour can result in a false sense of the material’s validity.

Keywords: interpreter; cross-cultural research; Sweden; mental ill-health; methodological rigour (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:58:y:2012:i:1:p:34-40

DOI: 10.1177/0020764010382693

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