Handling translations of data for qualitative research

Authors

  • Uswatun Qoyyimah

    Universitas Pesantren Tinggi Darul Ulum, Jawa Timur 61481, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59400/fls.v5i1.1515

Abstract

Qualitative research conducted in a non-English speaking setting requires the researchers to prepare and present translations of data, and then to report on the project in English to reach a global audience. This paper considers the process and ethical considerations involved in such an invisible methodological phase. This includes activities undertaken before data analysis and at the point of data presentation in order to convey participants’ original meanings and fulfil translation ethics. It focuses on educational research using the constructivist-interpretive paradigm on the grounds that its knowledge construction process involves different parties and demands both researchers and the researched to co-construct knowledge. Therefore, researchers in this paradigm might encounter dilemmas around translating data generated from interviews with non-English speaking participants. This paper offers strategies to address translation dilemmas for bilingual researchers based on the existing literature and own experience.

Keywords:

ethical translation, bilingual researcher, constructivist-interpretive paradigm, qualitative research

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Issue

Vol. 5 , Iss. 1 (June 2023)

Article Type

Review

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Copyright © 2023 Uswatun Qoyyimah

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.