A Process for Reviewing Translations of Data Collection Instruments and Related Materials
Yuling Pan
ABSTRACT
The Census Bureau Translation Guideline specifies a review process for translation of data collection instruments and supporting materials. It recommends that a committee review approach be adopted in the review process, and that the committee consist of subject-matter specialists, program managers, and survey methodologists with knowledge of questionnaire design and pretesting, as well as translators, translation reviewers, and translation adjudicators. The translation guideline also recommends pretesting of translations of data collection instruments and supporting materials in the target language. The purpose of this document is to provide specific steps for the review process referenced in the Census Bureau Translation Guideline. This document outlines a step-by-step process for reviewing two categories of translated materials. The first category includes translations that have not undergone pretesting. The second category includes translations that have undergone pretesting following the Census Bureau's Pretesting Standard.
CITATION: Pan, Yuling. (2009). A Process for Reviewing Translations of Data Collection Instruments and Related Materials. Statistical Research Division Study Series (Survey Methodology #2009-09). U.S. Census Bureau. Available online at <http://www.census.gov/srd/papers/pdf/ssm2009-09.pdf>.
