What are some examples of descriptive research questions in interpreting?

1 What are descriptive research questions?

Descriptive research questions are questions that aim to describe the current state of a phenomenon, rather than to test a hypothesis or to explain a causal relationship. Descriptive research questions usually start with words like what, how, when, where, who, or how many, and they can be answered by collecting and analyzing data from observations, surveys, interviews, documents, or recordings. Descriptive research questions can help researchers to identify the scope, the frequency, the distribution, the variation, or the correlation of a phenomenon, as well as to generate new insights or hypotheses for further investigation.

2 Why are descriptive research questions important in interpreting?

Descriptive research questions are important in interpreting because they can help researchers to understand the nature and the context of interpreting practice, as well as to address the needs and the challenges of interpreters and their clients. Descriptive research questions can also provide useful information for interpreter training, assessment, and quality assurance, as well as for policy making and advocacy. Moreover, descriptive research questions can contribute to the development of interpreting theory and methodology, by revealing the underlying processes, strategies, and outcomes of interpreting.

3 How to formulate descriptive research questions in interpreting?

To formulate descriptive research questions in interpreting, researchers need to first identify a specific topic or problem that they want to explore, based on their research objectives, interests, and gaps in the existing literature. Then, they need to narrow down their focus and scope, by specifying the variables, the population, the sample, the setting, and the time frame of their study. Next, they need to choose an appropriate research design and method, such as qualitative, quantitative, or mixed, depending on the type and the amount of data they want to collect and analyze. Finally, they need to write clear and concise questions that reflect their research purpose and that can be answered by their data.

4 What are some examples of descriptive research questions in interpreting?

Interpreting involves a variety of topics and methods, and descriptive research questions can be used to explore them. For example, what are the main modes and settings of interpreting in a specific country or region? How do interpreters cope with ethical dilemmas in different contexts? When and how do they use non-verbal communication in their work? Where and how do they acquire their professional skills and knowledge? Who are the clients and users of interpreting services, and what are their expectations and satisfaction levels? How many words or units do interpreters process and produce per minute in different modes and languages? How do they adapt their language and style to different audiences and registers? What are the common errors or difficulties that interpreters encounter, and how do these affect their performance and quality? Additionally, how do interpreters collaborate with each other and with other professionals in team settings? Finally, what are the effects of interpreting on the cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being of interpreters?

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?