Research Design and Approach

This chapter presents the methodological framework of a study investigating translation quality assurance (TQA) in the Chinese translation market. Adopting a multiple case study design, this research explores three core questions: (i) How translation is conducted in Chinese companies, (ii) How practices influence quality and (iii) How quality can be systematically assured? Grounded in constructivist epistemology, this study prioritizes professionals’ lived experiences to understand TQA as a socially constructed practice. Six translation companies—representing procedure-based and expert-oriented approaches—were selected through purposive sampling, ensuring diversity in size, location and workflow models. Data collection combined questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and textual analysis of real-world translations, with triangulation to strengthen validity. Translations were assessed via error analysis (MQM–DQF framework) and holistic evaluation (accuracy, language quality, adherence to briefs). The methodology emphasizes ethical rigor, including anonymization and participant consent, while addressing challenges like market-academia gaps and limited standardization. By integrating empirical evidence with theoretical insights, this chapter lays the foundation for identifying actionable TQA practices in China’s evolving translation industry.