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Assessing the use of back translation: the shortcomings of back translation as a quality testing method
[journal article]
Abstract Back translation - the 're-translation' of a translated questionnaire back into the original language and the subsequent comparison of the original version and the back translation - is a controversial assessment method for questionnaire translations. Recently, cross-cultural survey methodologists h... view more
Back translation - the 're-translation' of a translated questionnaire back into the original language and the subsequent comparison of the original version and the back translation - is a controversial assessment method for questionnaire translations. Recently, cross-cultural survey methodologists have followed the call for more empirical research on this method. This article adds to the small body of research by drawing on the back translation documentation from the 2012 European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS). First, results from the official EQLS back translation step are contrasted with results when additional persons perform the same comparison step between back translation and original. We note inconsistency in the detection of presumed flaws. Second, the back translation outcome is contrasted with additional native speaker checks of the actual translation. While back translation can uncover problems, it causes quite a number of false alarms, and even more importantly, many problems remain hidden.... view less
Keywords
questionnaire; survey research; quality assurance; translation
Classification
Methods and Techniques of Data Collection and Data Analysis, Statistical Methods, Computer Methods
Method
development of methods; basic research
Free Keywords
survey translation; back translation; assessment method; translation quality
Document language
English
Publication Year
2017
Page/Pages
p. 573-584
Journal
International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 20 (2017) 6
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2016.1252188
ISSN
1464-5300
Status
Postprint; peer reviewed