Table 1 Better practice in working with bilingual worker in research
A bilingual worker’s competency in the language of interest to the research project and the researcher’s language e.g. English is assessed in some way. Researchers are aware that a community language acquired in a host country by a migrant can be different than language acquired in a country of origin. | Shimpuki & Norr 2012 [15] |
Hanna et al. 2008 [16] | |
Temple 2006 [17] | |
Centre for Ethnicity and Health 2008 [5] | |
Consideration is given to the characteristics of a bilingual worker compared to the participants and how these may impact the study. Some characteristics may need to be matched e.g. age, gender, cultural background. | Shimpuki & Norr 2012 [15] |
Fryer et al. 2011 [18] | |
Walin & Ahlstrom 2006 [19] | |
Baird 2011 [20] | |
Temple 2006 [17] | |
Kirkpatrick & Van Teijlingen 2009 [21] | |
Berman & Tyyska 2011 [22] | |
Researchers have considered other factors that are likely to increase the quality of the data collected; for example, data collection is carried out in a safe environment or there is cross checking of data between bilingual workers. Bilingual workers are aware of how these factors can influence the quality of the information they collect. | Walin & Ahlstrom 2006 [19] |
Berman & Tyyska 2011 [22] | |
Consideration is given as to whether it is important to recruit bilingual workers who have previous experience conducting research and/ or working in the health area related to the research project. | Shimpuki & Norr 2012 [15] |
Squires 2008 [6] | |
Baird 2011 [20] | |
Centre for Ethnicity and Health 2008 [5] | |
The researchers provide training, or at least a briefing, about the research project to the worker as well as discussing the bilingual worker’s role and what is expected e.g. timelines. | Shimpuki & Norr 2012 [15] |
Hanna et al. 2008; [16] | |
Walin & Ahlstrom 2006 [19] | |
Baird 2011 [20] | |
Centre for Ethnicity and Health 2008 [5] | |
Consideration is given to whether a bilingual worker may know the participants and if social desirability bias may influence the quality of the data collected. Researchers are aware that recruitment of participants may be extremely difficult without a worker who knows potential participants. | Walin & Ahlstrom 2006 [19] |
Hanna et al. 2006 [7] | |
Researchers consider how they will include participants who are illiterate in their own language. The researchers and the bilingual worker discuss this issue and how it will be handled. | Hanna et al. 2008 [16] |
There are regular meetings between researchers and bilingual workers to discuss the research process and progress. This also allows for the early identification of any additional training requirements or potential problems. | Shimpuki & Norr 2012 [15] |
Hanna et al. 2008 [16] | |
Berman & Tyyska 2011 [22] | |
The research is collaboration between the researchers and bilingual workers. The bilingual worker’s opinions are valued with regards to the development of focus group questions, questions in survey instruments, and other documents related to the study, such as consent forms. The worker’s feedback about the recruitment process, interviews, and data collected is incorporated into the findings of the study. | Shimpuki & Norr 2012 [15] |
Hanna et al. 2008 [16] | |
Baird 2011 [20] | |
Hanna et al. 2006 [7] | |
Kirkpatrick & Van Teijlingen 2009 [21] | |
The researcher will not place a bilingual worker at risk. This risk includes damage to their reputation or to negative community comment. | Berman & Tyyska 2011 [22] |
The number of bilingual workers used is small to increase the dependability and credibility of the data | Walin & Ahlstrom 2006 [19] |