Lost in interpretation: The use of interpreters in research on mental ill health

Abstract

Background: The literature concerning interpretation in research primarily concentrates on rigorous techniques to eliminate bias. This article analyses other significant issues that arise when interpreters participate in research. Material: Empirical examples are drawn from a research project concerning mental ill health in a multicultural neighbourhood. Discussion: Interpreters influence interview data in ways commonly unnoticed by researchers. One often-overlooked factor is that languages are dynamic and interpreters are not instruments. Conclusion: Research conducted with an interpreter is a complex undertaking. Solely relying on checklists to improve methodological rigour can result in a false sense of the material’s validity.