The linguistic validation process involves a multiparty collaboration in which each participant provides a specific input:

The Developer of the source instrument to be linguistically validated (“the Developer”). The Developer gives information on the conditions of use of the instrument and on the original concepts investigated.

Those who need the target language version(s) for research studies: pharmaceutical companies, academic researchers, public institutions, etc. (“the Sponsor”). The Sponsor generally provides funding for the linguistic validation work.

A local team in the target country headed by a Consultant (“the Consultant”) working in collaboration with translators and other local participants in the process (“the Local Project Team”). The Local Project Team performs the linguistic validation steps in the target country under the supervision of a member of MAPI Institute.

MAPI Institute, the co-ordinating center. MAPI Institute (“the Institute”) liaises with the other parties involved and supervises the work of the Local Project Team(s), checks the quality of the work done at each step, and provides the local project team(s) with guidance and expertise on the linguistic validation tasks.

The work of the MAPI Institute is supported by the MAPI Research Trust’s Information Resources Centre, as well as by other external resources.

Their interactions are summarized in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Interactions between all parties involved.