How should you handle interpreters or bilingual staff during assessment to ensure fairness and accuracy?

• A. Ensure interpreters understand test instructions, maintain neutrality, translate only necessary items, document interpreter involvement, and consider translated norms when available
• B. Translate every item for all languages
• C. Use family members as interpreters only
• D. Do not document interpreter involvement

Answer: (A)

Ensuring fairness and accuracy when assessment involves interpreters or bilingual staff is essential. Interpreters must thoroughly understand the test instructions to convey them precisely, so meaning isn’t altered during translation. They should remain neutral and avoid offering hints, explanations, or cues that could influence how a student responds. Translating only the items that are necessary helps preserve the test’s intended difficulty and construct being measured, reducing the risk of introducing extra variables through over-translation. Documenting who served as the interpreter and what steps were taken provides accountability and helps interpret results in context, especially if language support might affect scoring. When available, using translated norms can improve fairness by aligning interpretation with the appropriate language version and population.

Translating every item for all languages is impractical and can change the test’s properties. Family members as interpreters raise privacy, bias, and reliability concerns. Not documenting interpreter involvement hides important information that could affect the interpretation of results.