Multistage Process Cross-National Research

Overview

A single back-translation is insufficient to ensure accurate and culturally sensitive translation of measures for cross-national research. This project aims to identify a multistage process for translating and adapting three to four measures into Mandarin, Spanish, and Indian English. The project team comprises researchers, clinicians, and autistic self-advocates, all of whom have a keen interest in working with individuals with developmental disabilities. Currently, the team has completed Phase 1 and is finalizing the Phase 2 process, which involves conducting cognitive interviews and focus group discussions across three locations—China, Guatemala, and India—to confirm content validity. In Phase 3, the team will pilot-test the measures to establish preliminary construct validity for their use in research..

Roles and Responsibilities 

As the Principal Investigator, I oversee all aspects of the project, including: 

• Developing and refining research questions and hypotheses

• Identifying research team members and providing research training

• Designing the study and selecting appropriate research methods

• Ensuring compliance with ethical guidelines and regulations

• Collecting and managing quantitative and qualitative data

• Supervising and mentoring researchers and students

• Coordinating with collaborators and partners for data analysis and integration

• Disseminating research findings through presentations, talks, and publications

Presentations

Suswaram, S., Liu, M., Wang, T., Raman, B., Alam. I., Miranda. A., Juarez. M., Chowbey, B. T., Bhupathiraju, T., & Gandhi, R. (2023, November). Collaborative and Iterative Translation for Cross-Sectional Research and Clinical Context. Research Technical Talk. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association convention, Boston, MA. [Virtual]