Types of study, methods of
analysis, data, theoretical
frameworks
Data, methods, theory
• Data selection
– we select data of relevance to our
research questions
• Methods of analysis
– we find appropriate methods to
help us to analyse our data
• Theoretical concepts
– we use concepts, terms,
frameworks, approaches to help us
to describe and explain our data
and findings
Chesterman’s models of translation
• Comparative model
– focus on (static) product of translation
– compare/contrast ST and TT (or TT and
non-TT)
• Process model
– focus on (dynamic) process of
translation
– look at translator behaviour, decisionmaking
• Causal model
– focus on causes of translation: why is a
translation like this?
– focus on effects: what is the effect of
this translation?
– causes and effects may be cognitive,
socio-cultural, situational, etc.
Chesterman 2000
Types of studies (1)
• Pilot study = preliminary research testing
a research method on very restricted
material
• Case study = in-depth investigation with
limited set of data
• Corpus study = use of wider range of
material, electronic text collection
• Observational study = study of a process
or phenomenon in real-life setting
• Experimental study = set up controlled
conditions for testing, isolating a
particular feature for study
Williams and Chesterman 2002: 6-47
Types of studies (2)
• Cultural-historical study = study of
documents or other socio-cultural
products
• Meta-analysis = systematic survey of
what has already been done on a
particular restricted topic
• Conceptual analysis = aim only to
clarify or define concepts rather than
to apply or use them
• Applied research = aim to make
practical use of particular research
results or conceptual analyses
Williams and Chesterman 2002: 6-47
Quantitative vs. qualitative
research methods
• Quantitative methods
– common in natural sciences
– assume objectivity, one reality that can
be studied, value-free framework
– ‘positivistic’/’empirical-analytical’; focus
on cause and effect, rules and laws,
measurement
• Qualitative methods
– subjectivity acknowledged
– description, interpretation, explanation
– allow complex, multifaceted
investigation rather than measurement
– ‘humanistic’/’naturalistic’; focus often
on human action and behaviour
Range of qualitative methods
• Documentary
• Observational
1) Interactionist
– questionnaires
– interviews
– focus groups
2) Ethnographic
– immersion, as overt
researcher or covert
observer
Examples of methods used in TS (1)
Documentary
• Contrastive (linguistic)
analysis
• Textual analysis (e.g. Nord
1991)
• Discourse analysis (e.g.
Hatim and Mason 1990)
• Error analysis (e.g. Meta
46(2); The Translator 6(2))
• Historical reconstruction (e.g.
Pym 2000)
Examples of methods used in TS (2)
Observational
• Classroom analysis (e.g.
Kiraly 1995)
• Think-aloud protocols (e.g.
Meta 50(2))
Interactionist
• Interview analysis
• Questionnaire analysis
• Reader-response analysis
Data
• Documentary: (multimedial)
translations, interpretations,
source texts, electronic
corpora, paratexts (e.g.
prefaces, covers, blurb),
reviews, biographies, etc.
• Observational: A/V recordings,
keystroke records, think-aloud
protocols, etc.
• Interactionist: Interview data,
questionnaire data
Theoretical framework/concepts
• Theoretical framework(s)
required to provide tools (i.e.
concepts and terms) for
description and explanation
• Theory also helps you to set the
project in context of previous
studies:
– show familiarity with previous work
– show gap in knowledge/need for
research in this area
– show relevance of study and
(potential) findings
Further reading
Hermans, Theo (ed) (2002) Crosscultural Transgressions.
Research Models in Translation Studies II: Historical
and ideological issues, Manchester: St Jerome.
Olohan, Maeve (ed.) (2000) Intercultural Faultlines.
Research Models in Translation Studies I: Textual and
cognitive aspects, Manchester: St Jerome.
Both of these books provide examples of research
projects using a broad range of data, theoretical
frameworks and methods of analysis. Chesterman’s
(2000) paper outlines the comparative, process and
causal models of translation studies research
Rapport, Frances (ed.) (2004) New Qualitative
Methodologies in Health and Social Care Research,
London and New York: Taylor & Francis.
Available as e-book; although for a different
discipline, Chapter 1 gives useful outline of nature of
qualitative research
Williams, Jenny and Andrew Chesterman (2002) The
Map: A beginner’s guide to doing research in
translation studies, Manchester: St. Jerome.
Many other research methods textbooks are available in
library, esp. for social sciences or education
References
Chesterman, Andrew (2000) ‘A Causal Model for
Translation Studies’, in Maeve Olohan (ed.)
Intercultural Faultlines. Research Models in Translation
Studies I: Textual and cognitive aspects, Manchester:
St Jerome, pp. 15-27.
Hatim, Basil and Ian Mason (1990) Discourse and the
Translator, London: Longman.
Kiraly, Donald (1995) Pathways to Translation, Kent: Kent
State University Press.
Nord, Christiane (1991) Text Analysis in Translation,
Amsterdam: Rodopi.
Pym, Anthony(2000) Negotiating the Frontier: Translators
and intercultures in Hispanic history, Manchester: St
Jerome.
Special issue of Meta 46(2) (Evaluation and translation)
Special issue of The Translator 6(2) (Evaluation and
translation)
Special issue of Meta 50(2) (Translation and interpreting
processes)
Williams, Jenny and Andrew Chesterman (2002) The
Map: A beginner’s guide to doing research in
translation studies, Manchester: St. Jerome.
Next:
Research funding and
research proposal outlines