(Mis)using grounded theory in translation and interpreting studies: a meta-method review

While grounded theory (GT) is a qualitative research methodology widely used across disciplines, there have been numerous misconceptions and misunderstandings about it among researchers. To pursue enhanced research rigour, scholars have been engaging in ongoing methodological reflections on this methodology. However, no attempt has yet been made to scrutinise how the methodology is understood and used in translation and interpreting studies (TIS). Employing a meta-method review approach, this article evaluates the utilisation of GT in TIS to assess its methodological rigour and highlight common misunderstandings in the discipline. The study includes 35 studies conducted across 13 countries from 2004 to 2023. Our findings reveal that while GT is increasingly popular among TIS researchers, it is also widely misunderstood and misused. This study highlights prevalent methodological inconsistencies and a lack of clarity in the description of GT within these studies. To enhance the quality of GT research in TIS, it is crucial for researchers to adhere to the key tenets of GT throughout their research process and to clearly document this adherence in their reporting. By providing a clear and systematic analysis, this study engages with ongoing methodological reflections on GT in other disciplines and has implications for enhancing research rigour not only in TIS but also in disciplines beyond.