advanced research methodologies in translation studies

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Advanced Research Methodologies in Translation StudiesPresentation · January 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.1567.2402

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Bahareh Divandari

Allameh Tabatabai University

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Available from: Bahareh DivandariRetrieved on: 14 April 2016

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Advanced Research Methodologies

in Translation Studies

Course Level: PhD

Bahareh Divandari

Dr. G. R. Tajvidi1st Semister 2015-16

Allameh Tabatab’i University

Department of English Translation Studies

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Bahareh Divandari, Allameh Tabataba'i

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Introduction

Highlight issues the should be of concern to all

researcherPlace these issues in context of translation

studies research

Offering examples


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4


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brief


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1. Ontology and Epistemology


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6Bahareh Divandari, Allameh Tabataba'i

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Ontology (the study of being)

Objectivism: social phenomena have an existence of their ownapart form social actors (humans)=natural science perspective

Constructivism: social phenomena are not inherent but areascribed to it by social actors

Realism: Intermediate position between objectivism and

Constructivism= that can be known through the senses as well aseffects of hidden structures and mechanisms

Epistemology(the study of knowledge)

Positivism: social phenomena is objectively researched, dataabout the social world can be collected and measured. Linked with

quantitative approach & empiricism.

Interpretivism: explore the social world from the point of viewof the actors and subjective interpretations. Linked with qualitative

approaches.

Realism: agrees with positivism but also effects can provideevidence of the underlying structures and mechanisms. Linked with

both quantitative and qualitative approaches= obsrvable+hidden

structures and mechanism

Matthews and Ross (2010)

Positivism

Postpositivism: empiricism and objectivism are treated asdistinct positions; just because research is ‘empirical’ in nature does not

mean that it is ‘objective’(Tymoczko2007:146).

Critical theory

Constructivism

Participatory/cooperative

Ontology

Epistemology

Methodology

Ethics

Inquirer posture

Quality criteria

Guba and Lincoln (2005): “there is no single ‘truth’ … all truths are but partial truths”


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2.Research Terminology

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Model:Representation of ‘reality’

FrameworkSet of ideas and approaches

TheorySet of concepts to define and

explain some phenomenon

TypologyTypical model of the items tendto be found in relation to each

other

ConceptIdeas driving from a model or

framework

MethodSpecific research technique

MethodologyA general approach to studying a

phenomenon

ToolsWhat is at hand: recordingdevices, keystroke logging

tools


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Instrument of

understanding


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•Apart from the philosophical terms:Ontology and Epistemology,

•Researcher is to carefully consider:

1.Use of research terminology

2. Justify the definitions used for a

given purpose

3.Use terms consistently

4.Others might use the terms in

different ways


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Method vs. Methodology Theory and Method

• Chesterman(2007):

“methods are the ways in

which one actually uses,

develops, applies and tests

a theory in order to reach

the understanding it offers.”


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3.Types of Research

Questions to be answered before conducting research:

• what is the research question, which method or methods are most appropriate,

• what kind of data will be collected, how will the data be analysed and so on.

• think about one’s epistemological framework


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It is important to consider what type of research we are engaging in:


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• Empirical research: seeks new data, new information derived from the observationof data and from experimental work ,evidence which supports or disconfirmshypotheses, or generates new ones. – Basic or applied research: 1) Basic: fundamental research-primary aim is to acquire new

knowledge. 2) Applied: practical problems- has an application in life.

•Experimental: seeks to establish cause and effect relations

(if X happens, then what is the effect on Y?)

Controlled environment :not always possible in social sciences

Often comparative: ‘experimental group’ (also known as a ‘treatment group’) and a ‘control group’

• Explorative: e.g. phenomenology

(what is the effect on Y if X happens, or what X is)

lived experience or appearance of a r phenomenon is explored

interpretive, subjective approach, personal experiences

• Conceptual research :aims to define and clarify concepts, to interpret orreinterpret new ideas, to relate concepts into larger systems, to introduce newconcepts or metaphor


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• Evaluative research:

– Summative evaluation:

• establish the value of a particular initiative once it has been

implemented – Formative/process evaluation:

• 1) intended or unintended effects of the initiative 2)evaluate the delivery of an initiative.

• Action research: lead to change• tackles “real-world problems in participatory and

collaborative ways in order to produce action and knowledge

• integrated fashion through a cyclical process


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Empower

stakeholders


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• Ethnographic research: explores cultural groups

– understand, describe, and interpret a way of life

– from the point of view of its participants

• e.g. study of the Finnish translation unit at the

European Commission


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4.Research Questions and

Hypotheses


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Research Questions

Question form? 3 views are stated (pp.18)Question form? 3 views are stated (pp.18)

No definite category/ hierarchy: primary question+ secondaryquestions/ sub-questions

No definite category/ hierarchy: primary question+ secondaryquestions/ sub-questions

Research questions evolve over time:reducing the scope and become more specific

Research questions evolve over time:reducing the scope and become more specific

Based on : 1) your interest

2) Interest of community at large

Based on : 1) your interest

2) Interest of community at large

States the purpose of your research, guidesyou through

States the purpose of your research, guidesyou through

Identify at least a tentative research questionIdentify at least a tentative research question

Before selecting methodologyBefore selecting methodology

Exploratorywhat knowledge exists about

a particular phenomenon

Descriptivedescribe a phenomenon in

detail

Explanatory‘why’ question

Evaluativeseeks to understand the value

of a phenomenon


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Hypotheses

Ask: what we expect to find →support or

contradict our hypothesesAsk: what we expect to find →support or

contradict our hypotheses

Not all research questions can be expressed in

terms of a hypothesis

Not all research questions can be expressed in

terms of a hypothesis

Hypothesis is not just an expression of theresearch question in the form of a statement

Hypothesis is not just an expression of theresearch question in the form of a statement

=a statement about relationship not a question=a statement about relationship not a question

“[a] testable assertion about a relationship orrelationships between two or more concepts”“[a] testable assertion about a relationship orrelationships between two or more concepts”


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Relationships

Causalchange in one

concept (X)causes a change

in the other (Y)

Associativeinfluence of one concept

on another

+ intervening variable


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Chesterman’s (2007) Types of Hypotheses:

Descriptive

‘All Xs have features F,or belong to class Y’

Predictive '

‘In conditions ABC, Xwill (tend to) occur’

INTERPRETIVE

something (X) can beusefully interpreted as

Y

Explanatory

‘X is caused orinfluenced by ABC’


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Conceptual

Hypotheses

Empirical

Hypothesestests

Generalize,

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hermeneutics

Suggest

reasons


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5.The Literature Review


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Researchers can:

1. Identify and describe theoretical framework

2. Identify interesting research questions

3. Explain their motivation and potential contribution

Literature

review


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Arlene Fink: “a systematic, explicit, and reproducible method foridentifying, evaluating, and synthesizing the existing body of

completed and recorded work produced by researchers, scholars, and

practitioners”


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• Identify, read and evaluate the key sources

Systematic = not random

• Inclusion: clearly stating work, authors, time period, domain,languages, region, etc

• Exclusion: what is excluded and whyExplicit

• Documented clearly

• Appropriate referencing: could be tracked down and confirmedReproducible

•Synthesize: core concepts and findings

•Identify: Relevant work

•Not repeating verbatim (word-for-word)

•Summarizing : main themes, ideas, questions/hypotheses and conclusion

•Challenges when synthesizing: 1) avoid plagiarism 2)structure of the work

• Structure: author by author? Era by era? Language by language? Mix intothemes and topics?

Synthesize

•Novice researcher assume:1) evaluating is challenging 2)not in a position tocriticize

• Critically explore: find strength and weakness

•Comparative aspect: aim to highlight 1) contradictory findings 2) findingswhich support previous research 3) differences in assumptions, theories etc.

Evaluate= evaluate critically


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6.Data


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We collect data to find answers to research questions

Data

Spoken

Written

Non-verbal

• Primary

– collected by the researcher

• interview

transcriptions,

questionnaire

responses, translations

etc.

•

Secondary – collected by other

researchers

• Corpora


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Types of Data

• Structured

– Quantitative approach

• represented numerically andanalyzed statistically

• questionnaire surveys

• Semi or unstructured data

– Qualitative approach

• interviews

Levels of measurement

• Categorical scale/nominaldata

–

Fall into only one category,e.g. ‘pregnant’/’not pregnant’

• Ordinal scale data

– Concept can be ranked, e.g.dullness scale

• Ratio scale data

– Interval data, fixed valuebetween points

• Interval scale data

– Grading system used toevaluate student workBahareh Divandari, Allameh Tabataba'i

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When’s data sufficient?

• Data collection depends on many variables:

– Methodology/research question/ hypothesis/

time allocation

– Data analysis: Individual / team/ automatic

– Validity/credibility

• Pilot study: helpful to carry out a small-scale

beforehand

• Add layers of data overtime until stabilization in the

variability of results


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7. Qualitative, Quantitative and

Mixed-method Approaches


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Research approach should be determined by the research

question(s) and how best it/they might be addressed:

Translation research:

1)critical discourse analysis,

2) interviews,

3)focus groups,

4)questionnaires, etc:

Inductive or deductive

Translation research:

1) corpus analysis,

2)eye tracking,

3) keystroke logging, etc


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Mixed-methods: both qualitative and quantitative

•qualitative phase →quantitative phase:

explore data qualitatively and to follow this exploration up with

a more focused quantitative analysis of the topic or sub-topic.

•quantitative phase → qualitative phase:

commencing with a quantitative phase has the potential

advantage of exposing some trends that can then be furtherprobed via qualitative data

Triangulation : collection of a variety of data on the same

phenomena, or the collection of data by different investigators

or by different methods to ensure that the method of

collecting data is valid.


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8.Research Operationalization


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Operationaldefinition

Unit ofanalysis

Unit ofdata


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• macro-level data: – Organizations (TS: Professional translator associations),

– Countries (TS: country-specific laws regarding translation),

– Systems (TS: literary polysystem),

– Social entities (TS: translation practice within organizations)• micro-level data:

– Individual (TS: translation strategies)

– Word (TS: specific strategies in a translated text)

– Text (TS: time taken to translate a text)

• Tymoczko: – Macro-level research: cultural approach

– Micro-level research : linguistic approach

– Encourages convergence


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Unit ofdata


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• Not the same as unit of data

• Does not depend on the unit of data:

–

General analysis – Specific analysis

– e.g. ‘text’ analysis: lexical

Sentence, clause, phrase..


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Unit ofanalysis

micro-level data specific analysis


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• Operational definition:

• Approach for Gathering data+ Analyzing data

• Operationalization refers to the operations

involved in measuring the dependent variable.

• ‘how can I turn this somewhat abstract theory

into a measurable entity?’• Two crucial questions:

– 1.what influence does the researcher’s

beliefs and ideology have on the proposed

operationalization of the concept?

– 2.whether or not the tools selected canactually measure the concept the researcher

wishes to measure?


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Operationaldefinition


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• “something that varies … in some way that we seek to measure”

• quantitative approaches – dependent variables: core concept we are trying to assess

– independent variables: things that we manipulate in order to seewhat the effect is on dependent variable

• confounding variables: variables that influence dependent and independentvariables

• qualitative approach – Research constructs (= variables)

• Unobservable variables, and therefore variables that have to be measuredindirectly

•

Chesterman’s distinction: – profile variables: form of a translaon→ styliscs, syntacc

– context variables: translaon context and its consequences → Skopos


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Measurable

variables


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Thank You


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Appendix


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پژوهش

هاي

سو ل

چه شو هدي وجود د رد که نشان می دهد مترجمین ز•

ستفاده کرده ستMinMaxستر تژي

•

به ستر تژ

توجه

با

MinMax

فرعی

هاي

چه ستر تژي

مترجمین

کرده ست

ستفاده

مترجم ها ز ستر تژي• ستفاده می کنند MinMaxچر

چه تاثیري بر کیفیت ترجمه د ردMinMaxستر تژ•

)کتشاف

) (توصیف

) (توضیح

) (رزیاب

(

می تو ند ترکیبی باشد


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Hypotheses and variables

Other independent variable (confounding): text complexity, experience of the translator,degree of specialization

dependent variable (quality)

and the independent variable (time pressure).

Null Hypothesis: There is no change in translation quality when time pressure is increased

Research Question: What is the effect on translation

quality when time pressure is increased?


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Pym’s clips on hypotheses and model

• http://www.youtube.co

m/watch?v=NR6z0sO6f

ug

• http://www.youtube.co

m/watch?v=tuWYiPoYe

bs


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http://www.youtube.co/http://www.youtube.co/http://www.youtube.co/http://www.youtube.co/


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Tymokzco, Postpositivist approach:

interrelationship between data and

theory? In analysis of data, researchers

1. Explore the interrelationship

2. Make explicit links to

theoretical framework


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Action Research


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Triangulation


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