ISOQOL Translation & Cultural Adaptation SIG

Methodologies Subgroup

The "Methodologies" subgroup is led by Mona Martin. The objective of this group is to identify and prioritise a research agenda for the development and comparison of methodologies in the field of translation and cross-cultural research.

Main Objectives

• Establishment of list of Methodology - Research Questions (topics)
• Prioritize the topics
• Form working groups and begin work on the top priority topics

Update of Activities

A total of 10 research topics have now been developed. The Subgroup has decided to address the following 4 priority topics:

• When should an original questionnaire and its translations be revised and updated?
• Which aspect of the currently employed linguistic validation methodologies makes a difference?
• What types of documentation should be included and available as a part of the cross cultural adaptation process?
• What are the components of the "reconciliation" process?  What is the criteria for decisions made at this point?

The Subgroup is divided into 4 Working groups to work on the 4 priority topics:

Work Group One

Focus: When should an original questionnaire and its translations be revised and updated?

Initial Directions: Revisions to original questionnaires and translations should be considered carefully in terms of

• current information available from supporting quantitative data;
• documentation available verifying problem areas in existing translations;
• methodological improvements warranted as research knowledge has progressed.

To join Work Group 1, please contact Mona Martin.

Work Group Two

Focus: Which aspects of the currently employed linguistic validation methodologies make a difference?

Initial Directions:

• The first step being taken in evaluating how current linguistic methodologies make a difference is to compile the errors that each step identifies and causes to be removed from the new language versions during its development.
• This tabulation will be followed by summary of the consequences and vulnerabilities for the research data should the identified errors have been allowed to remain.

To join Work Group 2, please contact Mona Martin.

Work Group Three

Focus: What should be documented and reported in the development of new language versions of patient reported outcome measures, and how should this information be presented?

Initial Directions: Reports on the translation process are valuable reference documents, but both the type of content and amount of information contained in these reports varies. The initial direction of this work group is to:

• Synthesize information currently provided in translation reports
• Coordinate the development of consensus recommendations on major components that should be included in reports
• Present information on the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches to documentation

To join Work Group 3, please contact Barbara Gandek .

Work Group Four

Focus: What are the components of the "reconciliation" process?  What is the criteria for decisions made at this point?

Initial Directions:

• Review the literature for evidences of methodological descriptions of the reconciliation process
• Interview researchers who use this step and obtain descriptions of what is done and what criteria is used for decision making
• Develop and overview of findings and consider the possibilities of publication or presentation of a standardized definition of the reconciliation process

To join Work Group 4, please contact Michael Koller .

Future Steps

1. Continue the work on the first three priority issues - first summary documents in October of 2006.
2. Pursue remaining research questions

• In which context should multiple language versions be developed for one country, or across more than one country where the primary language spoken is the same?
• What is the relationship between linguistic, conceptual and psychometric equivalences and what is the link between them?
• How many patients are necessary for cognitive debriefing?
• Should there be grading systems for translations? If so, what would it be based on and how would it work?
• How should non-English questionnaires be translated?
• Should there be a different process for cultural adaptation and item development in developing countries? If so, how would that differ from the standard currently accepted process?

Presentations

Click here for a list of members of the Methodologies Subgroup.

Coming Soon a list of Selected Bibliography.

Click here to join the Methodologies Subgroup.