A METHOD FOR TRANSLATION OF INSTRUMENTS TO OTHER LANGUAGES

As researchers begin including individuals from diverse populations and language groups in their research efforts, it will become increasingly imperative that standardized procedures for translation of instruments to other languages be followed to ensure equivalency of translations. This article describes the translation process and identifies translation difficulties noted in adult education practice. This procedure for translation includes the use of a combination of back translation, committee approach, the bilingual technique or variations thereof, decentering techniques, administration of both language versions of an instrument to bilinguals, and pilot testing. Guidelines are recommended for translation procedures and an illustrative example of a translation project is included.