Multilingual surveys: Benefits and best practices to run them at your workplace in 2024

Imagina recibir una encuesta en un idioma que no entiendes. Confuso, ¿verdad? That’s how your non-English speaking employees feel when they receive surveys only in English.

It’s like taking a picture of the Mona Lisa instead of gazing into her mysterious eyes. You’re missing the magic! If your company isn’t running multilingual surveys, you're not truly connecting with your employees – you’re merely glancing past them.

By embracing their native languages, you’re sending a powerful message: "I see you. I value your voice." It’s about more than just translating words – it’s about capturing the nuances and emotions that make their feedback authentic.

Here, this article explores how organizations can effectively leverage multilingual survey strategies to engage their diverse workforce, improve decision-making, and cultivate a workplace culture where every voice is heard.

What is a multilingual survey?

A multilingual survey is a survey instrument designed to accommodate respondents who speak different languages. Its primary purpose is to ensure that all participants, regardless of their native language, can understand and respond to survey questions accurately and comfortably. This type of survey goes beyond mere translation, incorporating cultural nuances and context to maintain the integrity of the questions and responses.

The process of creating a multilingual survey involves several key steps. Initially, the survey is developed in the primary language. Expert translator tools (employee survey tools) then automatically translate the survey into the target languages, ensuring that the meaning of each question is preserved.

This process often involves back-translation, where the survey is translated text back into the original language by the translator (employee survey tools) to check for consistency and accuracy. Additionally, cultural adaptation is considered to ensure that questions are relevant and appropriate for all respondents.

Multilingual surveys are vital in diverse environments, such as multinational corporations, global research projects, and multicultural communities. They enable organizations to collect more representative data by including voices that might otherwise be excluded due to language barriers. This inclusivity leads to more accurate insights and better-informed decision-making.

Why are multilingual surveys important?

Multilingual surveys are crucial in today’s increasingly globalized and diverse environments. Their importance lies not only in effective data collection but also in promoting inclusivity and equity among participants. By providing surveys in many languages, organizations can ensure that all respondents, regardless of their linguistic background, can comprehend and respond accurately, leading to more reliable and comprehensive data.

Inclusivity is a key reason why multilingual surveys are essential. In diverse workplaces, communities, or global markets, participants come from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds. When multi-language surveys are only available in one language, non-native speakers may feel excluded or may not participate, resulting in data that does not accurately reflect the population.

Offering surveys in multiple languages ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to share their perspectives, thereby enhancing the representativeness and validity of the data collected.

Multilingual surveys foster a sense of belonging and respect among respondents. They demonstrate that the organization values diversity and is committed to hearing every voice. This can significantly improve engagement and participation rates, as individuals feel more comfortable and respected when they can communicate in their native language.

And multilingual surveys can uncover insights that might be missed in a monolingual approach. Different cultural contexts can influence how questions are understood and answered. By addressing these nuances through well-translated and culturally adapted surveys, organizations can gain a deeper and more accurate understanding of their diverse audiences.

5 Benefits of multilingual surveys

Multilingual surveys are instrumental in today’s multicultural and globalized environment. They offer a range of benefits that enhance the quality of data collection and foster inclusivity within organizations. Here are five key benefits of implementing multilingual surveys:

1. Enhanced data accuracy

Multilingual surveys ensure that participants fully understand the questions being asked. When respondents can read and respond in their native language, the likelihood of misinterpretation and erroneous answers decreases significantly. This leads to more accurate data, providing a reliable foundation for analysis and decision-making.

2. Increased participation rates

Offering surveys in multiple language versions makes them accessible to a broader audience. Participants are more likely to engage with and complete surveys if they are in a language they are comfortable with. This increased participation is crucial for obtaining a representative sample, especially in diverse or international settings where linguistic diversity is prevalent.

3. Cultural sensitivity and relevance

Multilingual surveys allow for the inclusion of cultural nuances that may be lost in translation. By tailoring surveys to be culturally sensitive and relevant, organizations can gather more meaningful insights. This approach recognizes and respects the cultural context of respondents, leading to more genuine and reflective feedback.

4. Improved employee engagement

In a workplace setting, multilingual surveys can significantly boost employee engagement. When employees see that their organization is making an effort to communicate in their preferred language, it fosters a sense of inclusion and respect. This can enhance morale and loyalty, as employees feel valued and understood.

5. Compliance with legal and ethical standards

In many regions, providing multilingual surveys is not just beneficial but also a legal requirement. Ensuring compliance with these regulations demonstrates an organization’s commitment to ethical standards and legal obligations. This can protect the organization from potential legal issues and enhance its reputation for being inclusive and respectful of all stakeholders.

Multilingual survey best practices

Multilingual surveys are essential for gathering accurate and inclusive data in diverse environments. Implementing these surveys effectively requires careful planning and execution. Here are some best practices for conducting multilingual surveys:

• Define clear objectives: Before translating your survey, establish clear objectives. Understand what you aim to achieve and identify the specific data you need. This clarity will guide the translation process and ensure that the questions remain focused and relevant across different languages.
• Choose the right languages: Select the languages that are most relevant to your target audience. Consider the linguistic diversity of your respondents and prioritize languages based on demographic data. This ensures that the survey reaches the maximum number of participants effectively.
• Hire professional employee survey translator tools: Use professional employee survey translator tools that have automated multilingual surveys. They should have experience in translating surveys and understand the nuances of both the source and target languages. This helps maintain the accuracy and intent of the questions.
• Back-translation: Implement back-translation as a quality control measure. After the initial translation, the automated employee survey tool translates the survey back into the default language. Compare the back-translated version with the original to identify and correct any discrepancies or misinterpretations.
• Provide clear instructions: Ensure that the instructions for completing the survey are clear and concise in all languages. This includes explaining the purpose of the survey, how to answer the questions and any specific terms or concepts used. Clear instructions help minimize confusion and improve response quality.
• Use simple and neutral language: Avoid complex language, idioms, or jargon that may not translate well. Use simple, straightforward, and neutral survey language to ensure that questions are easily understood across different languages. This practice enhances clarity and reduces the risk of misinterpretation.
• Regularly review and update: Periodically review and update your multilingual surveys to ensure they remain relevant and accurate. Language and cultural contexts can evolve, and staying up-to-date ensures that your surveys continue to effectively gather meaningful data.

How to create your online multi-language survey?

Creating an online multi-language survey involves careful planning and execution to ensure that the survey is accessible, clear, and effective for all respondents. Here are five steps to guide you through the process:

1. Select a survey platform: Choose an online survey platform that supports multi-language functionality. Ensure the platform allows for easy integration of multiple languages and offers tools for managing translations. Popular platforms like CultureMonkey provide these features.
2. Develop the original survey: Create multilingual surveys in your default language first. Focus on clear, concise questions and logical flow. Ensure that the questions are culturally neutral to minimize the need for extensive modifications during translation.
3. Identify target languages: Determine which languages your survey needs to be translated into based on your target audience. Consider the linguistic demographics of your respondents to ensure maximum reach and participation.
4. Set up the multi-language survey: Use your survey platform to set up the multi-language survey. Input the translations and ensure that respondents can easily select their preferred language. Test the survey in each language to confirm that all translations appear correctly and the survey functions as intended.
5. Pilot and collect feedback: Conduct a pilot test with a small, diverse group from your target audience. Collect feedback on the clarity and functionality of the survey in each language. Use this feedback to make any necessary adjustments before launching the survey more broadly.

How to analyze data collected from multilingual employee surveys?

Analyzing data from multilingual employee surveys requires a strategic approach to ensure that insights are accurate and representative of your diverse workforce. This involves addressing language nuances, cultural contexts, and ensuring data integrity. Here are ten detailed steps to guide you through the process:

• Consolidate responses: Start by consolidating all survey responses into a single dataset. Ensure that responses from not just the default language but all languages are included and correctly formatted for analysis. This might involve exporting data from your survey platform into a spreadsheet or a data analysis tool.
• Standardize data: Standardize the data to ensure consistency across different languages. This involves translating open-ended responses into the survey's default language, typically the primary business language. Use a professional employee survey translator tool that automates the feedback to maintain the accuracy of the translated responses.
• Check for consistency: Validate the consistency of responses across different languages. This can be done by comparing responses to similar questions across language groups to identify any discrepancies that might indicate translation issues or cultural misunderstandings.
• Segregate data by language: Before diving into detailed analysis, segregate the data by language. This allows you to identify patterns and trends within specific language groups, which can be crucial for understanding the diverse perspectives of your employees.
• Cultural context analysis: Conduct a cultural context analysis to interpret the data accurately. This involves understanding cultural nuances that may influence how questions are perceived and answered. Collaborate with cultural experts if necessary to gain deeper insights.
• Quantitative analysis: Perform quantitative analysis on closed-ended questions (e.g., multiple choice, rating scales). Use statistical methods to identify trends, correlations, and differences between language groups. Ensure that you apply consistent metrics across all survey language datasets.
• Qualitative analysis: For open-ended questions, perform qualitative analysis to uncover themes and patterns. Use coding techniques to categorize responses and identify common themes. Ensure that the translation of qualitative data is accurate and retains the original meaning.
• Cross-language comparison: Compare results across different languages to identify any significant differences or similarities. This can help in understanding how employees from different linguistic backgrounds perceive various aspects of the workplace. Use visual aids like graphs and charts to illustrate these comparisons.
• Identify bias and skew: Be aware of potential biases and skewed data. For example, if certain language groups are underrepresented, this could affect the overall findings. Adjust your analysis methods to account for any identified biases, ensuring that your conclusions are balanced and representative.
• Presenting results: When presenting the results, ensure that the findings are communicated clearly and comprehensively. Highlight key insights from each language group, and provide recommendations based on these insights. Use clear, inclusive language and visual aids to make the data accessible to all stakeholders.

Why choose CultureMonkey to create your employee multilingual surveys?

CultureMonkey is a powerful employee survey tool for organizations looking to enhance employee engagement and inclusivity through multilingual surveys. Here are compelling reasons to choose CultureMonkey for creating your employee multilingual surveys:

Enhanced workforce inclusivity

By offering surveys in over 100 languages, CultureMonkey ensures that all employees, regardless of their native language, can participate meaningfully. This inclusivity fosters a workplace culture where every voice is valued and heard, contributing to a more engaged and motivated workforce.

Increased survey participation

Providing surveys in employees’ preferred languages eliminates language barriers, encouraging higher participation rates. This leads to more comprehensive and representative data collection, providing deeper insights into employee sentiments and needs.

People-Science-Backed approach

Benefit from CultureMonkey’s people-science-backed approach, ensuring that survey questions are crafted to yield meaningful insights into employee engagement, satisfaction, and organizational culture. This scientific approach enhances the validity and relevance of survey results, guiding impactful interventions and improvements.

Seamless integration with HRMS

CultureMonkey integrates seamlessly with your existing HR Management Systems (HRMS), streamlining the survey setup process. This integration eliminates setup complexities, allowing you to quickly deploy multilingual surveys using customizable templates tailored to your organizational needs.

Scalability and flexibility

Need a survey in a new language? CultureMonkey accommodates your evolving needs effortlessly. Simply request the desired language, and CultureMonkey’s dedicated team will swiftly incorporate it into your survey capabilities, ensuring scalability as your organization grows.

Automated workflows

Build and deploy surveys within minutes using CultureMonkey’s automated workflows. Customize survey questions, set distribution channels, and let the platform handle the rest. This efficiency frees up your team to focus on analyzing insights rather than managing survey logistics.

Omnichannel distribution

Reach employees wherever they are by sending surveys through multiple channels including Email, MS Teams, Slack, WhatsApp, SMS/text messages, QR codes, and Kiosk modes. This diverse distribution approach enhances accessibility and engagement, catering to different communication preferences across industries.

Actionable insights

Receive translated survey responses in real-time with AI-recommended actionable insights. CultureMonkey’s platform not only collects feedback but also analyzes and presents data in a format that facilitates informed decision-making and strategic planning.

Advanced analytics capabilities

CultureMonkey offers advanced analytics tools that go beyond basic reporting. Gain deep insights into employee feedback with features like sentiment analysis, trend identification, and benchmarking against industry standards. These tools empower you to uncover hidden trends and make data-driven decisions that drive organizational success.

Compliance and security

CultureMonkey prioritizes data security and compliance with industry regulations such as GDPR, ISO 27001, and AICPA. Your employees’ survey responses are handled with utmost confidentiality and stored securely, giving you peace of mind regarding data protection and privacy.

Conclusion

Embracing multilingual surveys isn’t just about ticking a box—it’s about fostering inclusivity and unlocking invaluable insights from your diverse workforce. Change the default language. With CultureMonkey’s employee engagement survey platform, you’re not just bridging language barriers; you’re creating a platform where every employee feels heard and valued.

From seamless integration with your existing systems to real-time, actionable insights across multiple channels, CultureMonkey equips you with the tools to cultivate a workplace culture that thrives on diversity. Their commitment to data security, advanced analytics, and responsive support ensures that your survey initiatives are not only effective but also compliant and impactful.

Explore more about CultureMonkey and elevate your organization’s engagement strategy today at CultureMonkey.

FAQs

1. Which survey type is best when the sample speaks multiple languages

When your sample speaks multiple languages, the best survey type is a multilingual survey. This type ensures that all respondents can understand and respond in their native language, minimizing language barriers and maximizing participation and accuracy of responses. Multilingual surveys accommodate diverse linguistic backgrounds, enabling organizations to gather comprehensive and inclusive data that reflects the perspectives of all participants effectively.

2. How to ensure confidentiality and anonymity in multilingual employee surveys?

Ensuring confidentiality and anonymity in multilingual employee surveys involves implementing robust data security measures. Utilize encrypted survey platforms like CultureMonkey, which prioritize compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR. CultureMonkey ensures that survey responses are anonymized, securely stored, and accessible only to authorized personnel, maintaining confidentiality across diverse language settings.

3. What tools can be used to conduct multilingual employee surveys?

Tools like CultureMonkey are ideal for conducting multilingual employee surveys due to their robust multilingual capabilities. CultureMonkey supports surveys in over 100 languages, ensuring inclusivity and accurate data collection across diverse workforce demographics. With seamless integration options and user-friendly interfaces, CultureMonkey simplifies survey administration and analysis, offering comprehensive insights into employee feedback.

4. Is it necessary to offer the survey in every language spoken by employees?

Offering surveys in every language spoken by employees is not always necessary but can significantly enhance participation and data accuracy. Assessing the linguistic diversity of your workforce helps determine which other languages are most crucial to include. Prioritize languages spoken by a significant portion of employees to ensure comprehensive feedback. Tools like CultureMonkey facilitate multilingual surveys, allowing organizations to balance inclusivity effectively.

5. How to ensure cultural sensitivity in multilingual employee surveys?

Ensuring cultural sensitivity in multilingual employee surveys involves adapting questions and responses to respect diverse cultural norms and values. Collaborate with cultural experts or native speakers to review survey content for appropriateness and clarity across different languages. Tools like CultureMonkey facilitate this process by offering customizable survey templates and ensuring that questions are culturally relevant and inclusive.