The interpreter as co-interviewer: the role of the interpreter during interviews in cross-language health research

Abstract

Objective: Interviews with ethnic minority patients provide a rich source of data to understand their perspectives of disease and its management. Language barriers are, however, often a problem so interpreters need to be used. We explored the impact of the interpreter on cross-language interviews between researchers and respondents.

Methods: Secondary analysis of four interviews between researchers and patients involving professional interpreters.

Results: Interpreters were actively involved and influenced the interview in several ways: they assumed the interviewer's communicative role, edited information; initiated information-seeking, took over control of the interview, and took over the respondent's role. While the interpreter supported the interviewer, they posed risks to the quality of the interview.

Conclusion: Researchers need to be aware of the influence of interpreters. Researchers should instruct interpreters carefully about their roles though they may benefit from interpreters' strategies to support them.

Keywords: cross-language research; interpreters; qualitative study.