Observational Studies and Experimental Studies in the Investigation of Conference Interpreting
Published online: 1 January 1998
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.10.1.04gil
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.10.1.04gil
Abstract
In conference interpreting research, empirical investigation can be classified as observational or experimental. The former can be used for exploration, analysis and hypothesis-testing, and is either interactive or non-interactive. Besides its conventional role of hypothesis-testing, the latter can be exploratory. The main methodological problems in both are related to validity and representativeness and to quantification. At this stage, the most important contribution to interpreting research can be expected from observational procedures. Simple descriptive statistics and uncomplicated quantitative processing of the data still have much to offer.
Résumé
La recherche empirique sur l'interprétation peut être classée comme observationnelle ou expérimentale. La recherche observationnelle est interactive ou non et peut servir à l'exploration, à l'analyse et à la vérification d'hypothèses. Utilisée généralement pour la vérification d'hypothèses, la recherche expérimentale peut également être exploratoire. Les principaux problèmes méthodologiques dans ces deux démarches se posent en matière de validité et de représentativité et à propos de la quantification. A ce stade, c'est encore la recherche observationnelle qui présente le plus important apport potentiel. Les statistiques descriptives et des méthodes quantitatives simples gardent un grand intérêt.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Definitions
- 3.Basic Approaches in Observational Research
- 3.1.Three Types of Approach
- 3.1.1.The Exploratory Approach.
- 3.1.2.The Focused Analytical Approach
- 3.1.3.The Hypothesis-Testing Approach
- 3.2.Interactive and Non-Interactive Observational Research
- 3.1.Three Types of Approach
- 4.Experimental Research: Statistical Hypothesis-Testing vs. 'Open Experimenting'
- 5.Fundamental Methodological Issues in Experimental and Observational Research in IR
- 6.Methodological Issues in the Literature
- 6.1.Weaknesses Related to the Validity of the Data
- 6.2.Representativeness of the Data
- 6.3.Quantification
- 7.Facing the Problems: Coping Strategies
- 7.1.Validity of the Data
- 7.2.Representativeness of the Data
- 7.3.Quantification
- 8.Observational Studies vs. Experimental Studies in Translation Research
- 8.1.Factors Facilitating Observational Research
- 8.2.Factors Facilitating Experimental Research
- 9.Conclusion
References
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