A Mixed-Methods Approach to Translation Challenges in Multi-Language Research: Assessing How Spanish-Speaking Adults in the U.S. Interpret the Terms <i>Pro-Vida</i> (<i>Pro-Life</i>) and <i>Pro-Elección</i> (<i>Pro-Choice</i>)

Abstract In the US, abortion attitudes are categorized using the terms pro-life/pro-vida and pro-choice/pro-elección. In light of demographic changes in the U.S. population, it is important to explore whether these U.S.-centric abortion-related socio-political terms are interpreted similarly by English and Spanish speakers. We analyzed survey data from 1,025 adults and 15 cognitive-style interviews. We (1) quantitatively examined responses for abortion-related terms across English and Spanish, and (2) qualitatively assessed whether Spanish speakers are familiar with pro-vida and pro-elección, how they define these terms, their perceptions of people who self-identify with the terms, and their suggestions for alternative terms. Results suggest that Spanish speakers are less familiar with the contextual background of these terms. As such, they define them literally and conceptualize them from a broad perspective, which entails a degree of ambiguity for public opinion research. This study offers recommendations for abortion attitudes survey research and provides insights for survey methodologists and implications for multilingual survey research in culturally diverse settings. With Roe v. Wade being overturned in the U.S. in 2022, and thus abortion being on the ballot in many states hereafter, understanding how English and Spanish speakers interpret these terms is of utmost importance for polling and elections.