What is the IRB policy on the translation of consent forms into languages other than english?
Translation of research materials, such as consent forms, informational handouts, questionnaires, etc., requires careful conversion to ensure accuracy. The accuracy of the translation must consider cultural meaning, colloquial interpretation within the other language or particular culture speaking that language, in addition to the simple accuracy in translation of specific words. For this reason, it is usually insufficient to have any available person who speaks or writes the language to recreate the material, especially if they are not sensitive to the differences in native speakers’ interpretation of vocabulary and phrasing. There are several means to execute an accurate translation. • For many languages, such as Spanish, there exist certifications as a translator. You may wish to utilize the services of someone certified in the relevant language. For some other languages, there is no certification. For translations into these languages, professional translation services will sometim
