https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2024.11554
Lessons learned from qualitative fieldwork in a multilingual setting
Submitted: 29 June 2023
Accepted: 22 February 2024
Published: 22 March 2024
Accepted: 22 February 2024
Abstract Views: 729
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
Qualitative research conducted in a multilingual setting is an arduous, yet essential, endeavour. As part of my PhD research program, I set out to conduct qualitative process evaluation of a stroke trial in 11 languages in the Indian subcontinent. In this article, I reflect upon the challenges, oversights, and successes that I experienced in the hope of offering insight of use to fellow researchers conducting healthcare fieldwork in multicultural contexts where many languages are spoken. My account starts with a description of the setting’s context and the necessity of conducting research in multiple languages. I elaborate on the planning of the study which included selection of the sample and preparation of relevant documents, including informed consent in patients’ languages. Subsequent steps entailed submission and approval of requisite documents, setup and training of a research team, and conducting interviews using interpreters. During this process, I developed a hybrid technique for conducting interviews that reduced fatigue for both patient interviewees and interpreters while still yielding in-depth insights. Additionally, I discuss the benefits of engaging professional translators for performing translations. Finally, I introduce a stepwise approach to facilitate the thematic analysis of qualitative data. I believe this account will encourage and empower researchers to pave their own way while anticipating and preparing for potential obstacles when conducting research in similar settings.
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How to Cite
Verma, Shweta Jain. 2024. “Lessons Learned from Qualitative Fieldwork in a Multilingual Setting”. Qualitative Research in Medicine and Healthcare 8 (1). https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2024.11554.
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