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The interpreter as co-interviewer: the role of the interpreter during interviews in cross-language health research
Abstract
Objective: Interviews with ethnic minority patients provide a rich source of data to understand their perspectives of disease and its management. Language barriers are, however, often a problem so interpreters need to be used. We explored the impact of the interpreter on cross-language interviews between researchers and respondents. Methods: Secondary analysis of four interviews between researchers and patients involving professional interpreters. Results: Interpreters were actively involved and influenced the interview in several ways: they assumed the interviewer’s communicative role, edited information; initiated information-seeking, took over control of the interview, and took over the respondent’s role. While the interpreter supported the interviewer, they posed risks to the quality of the interview. Conclusion: Researchers need to be aware of the influence of interpreters. Researchers should instruct interpreters carefully about their roles though they may benefit from interpreters’ strategies to support them.
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“In some instances, the interpreter has been seen to take on more roles, which have the potential to create more power opportunities for themselves (Suurmond, et al, 2016).These can include the interpreter instigating supplementary questions, replying on behalf of the participant, taking control of the interview, and performing the role of editor about information being shared (Suurmond, et al, 201”
From A GROUNDED THEORY EXPLORATION OF WELLBEING FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN FORCIBLY DISPLACED AS A RESULT OF TRAUMA CAUSED BY CONFLICT, BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE OF PARTICIPANTS LIVING IN UGANDA (2025) · cites this paper as Suurmond, et al, 2016
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References 24 · Cited by 23
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Metadata
- Authors
- Suurmond, J., Woudstra, A., & Essink-Bot, M.-L.
- Affiliations
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam (NL)
- Principal Investigator, Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Centre/University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Corresponding author
- Suurmond, Jeanine
- Venue
- Journal of Health Services Research & Policy
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2016-02-16
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 172-177
- ISSN
- 1355-8196 (ISSN-L)
- 1758-1060
- OpenAlex
- W2274760198
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 3.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Health Services Research & Policy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Interpreting and Communication in Healthcare
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › Translation Studies and Practices
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Survey Methodology and Nonresponse
- Keywords
- interpreters, language barriers, ethnic minority patients, interpreter role, interview quality, patient perspectives, health research communication
- MeSH terms
- Communication, Communication Barriers, Health Services Research, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Language, Minority Groups, Research
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- CoChat. (2026). Citation check: The interpreter as co-interviewer: the role of the interpreter during interviews in cross-language health research. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1177/1355819616632020
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- Suurmond, J., Woudstra, A., & Essink-Bot, M.-L. (2016). The interpreter as co-interviewer: the role of the interpreter during interviews in cross-language health research. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy. https://doi.org/10.1177/1355819616632020
