ABSTRACT
Translation fidelity is often an overlooked aspect of research design within the field of applied linguistics. For studies using multiple languages for data collection and analysis, inadequately translated tools and data can lead to inaccurate conclusions. Research rigor is crucial for studies carried out in cross-cultural and multilingual contexts, where clear, replicable, translation processes are needed to maximize trustworthiness and validity. The challenge is particularly acute in small scale research where the researcher may not only create and translate the instruments, but also conduct qualitative analyses on the data. This chapter discusses key issues for multilingual research and introduces two serial translation procedures for strengthening the linguistic, cultural, and content validity of translated tools (e.g., survey instruments) and analysis texts (e.g., transcriptions). As translation is a key process in any research where multiple languages are being used in data collection and analysis, the chapter finishes by including a checklist for researchers, which can be used to evaluate the extent to which key issues have been addressed.
