How to conduct studies in multilingual countries?
The reality of research in multilingual countries:
The Observatoire Psycavi conducts empirical studies in the Great Lakes region of Africa, particularly in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The multiple languages and cultures can pose practical challenges in conducting studies.
Rwanda:
- 1 local language: KINYARWANDA
- Foreign languages:
- ENGLISH (younger generations)
- FRENCH (older generations)
DRC:
- 1 official language: FRENCH
- More than 200 local languages!
- Ex: in the territories of Masisi and Nyiragongo in North Kivu, the populations speak several languages such as:
- KIHUNDE
- KIKUMU
- KINYARWANDA
- SWAHILI
- FRENCH
Proficiency in different languages is often linked to:
- Level of education
- Socio-economic status
- Area of origin/residence
- Age
When conducting a study, it is pragmatically difficult to prepare it in multiple languages. How to overcome this challenge?
-
Identify the language spoken by the largest number of people from different cultural communities. Ex: In North and South Kivu, it is Swahili.
-
Prepare research instruments/tools in a local language and an official language. Ex: in Swahili and French.
-
Stay flexible and be ready to revise the research protocol according to the realities on the ground. Ex: This may require amendments to ethics approvals.
Our plan for collecting data for epidemiological studies in North Kivu:
Data collection in certain areas in North Kivu will be conducted in:
- FRENCH:
- This is the case in the city of Goma, where research participants in a portion of the city (commonly referred to as downtown) have only mastered French and know only a little Swahili as a result of coming from other provinces of the DRC.
- FRENCH / SWAHILI:
- In the peripheral neighborhoods of downtown Goma, there is a mix of participants. Some speak French and Swahili, while others speak only Swahili.
- SWAHILI / KIHUNDE / KINYARWANDA / KIKUMU:
- In Masisi, the three most spoken languages are Swahili, Kihunde, and Kinyarwanda.
- In Nyiragongo, the three most spoken languages are Swahili, Kikumu, and Kinyarwanda.
- With the assistance of field facilitators, local coordinators and research assistants will be guided to use the most suitable and comprehensible language for each participant.
