Cross-cultural normative assessment: Translation and adaptation issues influencing the normative interpretation of assessment instruments.

Abstract

This article describes some of the issues affecting measures that are translated and/or adapted from an original language and culture to a new one. It addresses steps to ensure (a) that the test continues to measure the same psychological characteristics, (b) that the test content is the same, and (c) that the research procedures needed to document that it effectively meets this goal are available. Specifically, the notions of test validation, fairness, and norms are addressed. An argument that such adaptations may be necessary when assessing members of subpopulations in U.S. culture is proposed