Trustworthiness of think‐aloud protocols in the study of translation processes

Abstract

Research on translation processes using think‐aloud protocols (TAPs) as the research design has recently received increasing attention. Such studies over the past two decades have produced many interesting yet by no means definitive findings about mental activities during the process of translation. As the research community strives for more in‐depth investigations into translation processes, some researchers have rightly expressed concerns over the rigor and trustworthiness of such studies. To address this concern, the article first summarizes important safeguards that must be put in place in data‐based qualitative research to ensure this critical element of trustworthiness. These safeguards are then used to evaluate the research designs of 15 published reports on investigations of translation processes using TAPs. It was found that many of the safeguards were not incorporated in most of the surveyed studies, thus leaving much to be desired in their designs and reports. Implications for future TAP research and publishing are also discussed.