Investigating problem-solving strategies of translation trainees with high and low levels of self-efficacy

Abstract

Translatology adopts psychological and cognitive approaches to study the complex processes underlying translational phenomena. As such, it deals with both translations and the translators who produce them. The present study uses think-aloud protocols and keystroke logging to explore the impact of affective factors such as self-efficacy beliefs on the selection and application of translation problem-solving strategies by a group of trainee translators completing a translation task. Four translation trainees completed a Translation Self-efficacy Questionnaire. Participants with both high and low self-efficacy rankings were asked to translate a text using the Translog keylogger while simultaneously verbalizing their mental processes. Analysis of the verbal protocols indicated considerable differences within the group regarding the cognitive and metacognitive strategies that they chose to employ. The results suggested that low self-efficacy leads subjects to spend too much time translating, due to repeated attempts at production and extensive revision. Implications of the findings for translator training are discussed.

The Psychometric Properties of Translating Self-Efficacy Belief: Perspectives From Chinese Learners of Translation

“…Many studies framed self-efficacy as connected to a students’ self-judgment of their capability to complete a specific task. From this perspective, students’ self-judgments of their translation competence should be considered to assess their self-efficacy ( Araghian et al, 2018 ). We therefore loosely interpreted translating self-efficacy as student translators’ self-perception of their competence when performing translation tasks.…”

“…For example, Bolaños-Medina (2014) suggest that there are positive correlations among students’ self-efficacy, source language reading comprehension, and their ability to find background documentary information. A high level of translating self-efficacy can entail the management and computer-aided translating skills, while low translating self-efficacy may lead translators to spend much time in the translating process ( Araghian et al, 2018 ). The growing recognition of self-efficacy in translation highlights the need of measuring translating self-efficacy.…”

“…On this basis, Haro-Soler and Kiraly (2019) define translating self-efficacy as the confidence that translators have in their abilities to perform translation activities. The scattered documentation suggests that self-efficacy is associated with the motivations of translators, expertise, and performance ( Atkinson, 2014 ; Bolaños-Medina, 2014 ; Araghian et al, 2018 ; Haro-Soler, 2019a ). The performance-stimulating effect of self-efficacy sheds light on the importance of examining translating self-efficacy.…”

Autoeficacia de los estudiantes de la carrera traducción inglés-español en instituciones de educación superior chilenas

“…Si se lleva al plano específico de la traducción, la retroalimentación positiva y constructiva corresponde a un factor clave para que los estudiantes confíen en sus capacidades como traductores (Araghian et al, 2018). Asimismo, la retroalimentación evidenciada en los discursos de los estudiantes entrevistados tiene dos ventajas, en primer lugar, el hecho de que le expliquen el porqué de sus errores en sus traducciones ayuda a que el alumno comprenda la brecha entre su desempeño y el resultado esperado, lo Hikma 19 (2) (2020), 291 -326 cual, subsecuentemente, les ayuda a autorregular su aprendizaje (Hattie y Timperley, 2007;Nicol y Macfarlane-Dick, 2006;Huxham, 2007;Brookhart, 2008).…”

Autoeficacia y competencia traductora: influencia en la práctica de la traducción inversa de estudiantes de Traducción e Interpretación en Lima, 2017

“…Al tener una experiencia previa exitosa en los talleres de traducción directa, los estudiantes optaron por aplicar las estrategias que aprendieron previamente. En su estudio, Araghian et al (2018) detallan que, por un lado, las estrategias que eligen los traductores se ven afectadas por su motivación y conocimiento. En este sentido, las creencias de autoeficacia determinan la selección, la motivación e incluso el procesamiento de la información.…”