A case study in translation methodology using the Health-Promotion Lifestyle Profile II

Although Hispanics constitute the most rapidly growing segment of the population in the United States, they have received relatively little attention regarding factors affecting their health behaviors and influences. One such factor is the scarcity of reliable and valid Spanish-language instruments for research with this population. Researchers who attempt to translate an existing instrument into Spanish need to recognize the methodological issues involved in the translation process and psychometric testing. The purpose of this article is to describe the advantages and disadvantages of various translation methodologies, to identify statistical issues in cross-cultural research, and to provide a case study of the translation process and statistical analysis of a translated instrument. Specifically, this study looks at the development and pilot testing of a Spanish-language version of the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II using a randomized convenience sample of 60 bilingual Hispanic individuals.