Preparing Instruments for Transcultural Research: Use of the Translation Monitoring Form with Nepali-Speaking Bhutanese Refugees

TLDR

Transcultural research instrument preparation is challenging, and published efforts to achieve equivalent translation are scarce, with translation quality largely hinging on translators’ consistency in spotting and correcting problematic items. The study introduces a translation monitoring form designed to improve the systematic preparation of instruments for transcultural research. The form is applied by systematically employing established translation and adaptation strategies. An example with Nepali‑speaking Bhutanese refugees demonstrates the form’s usefulness while highlighting challenges in achieving equivalent translation.

Abstract

Preparing instruments for transcultural research is a difficult task. Researchers typically do not publish their attempts to create equivalent translation. The quality of the translation depends mostly on the translators’ ability to be consistent in identifying and correcting incomprehensible, unacceptable, incomplete and irrelevant translated items. This paper presents a translation monitoring form to enhance the methodical preparation of instruments for transcultural use. Use of the form requires the systematic use of strategies advocated by previous translation and adaptation researchers. A detailed example of use of the translation monitoring form with Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees illustrates the usefulness of the form as well as the difficulties of creating equivalent translation.