ABSTRACT

Since its inception, interpreting studies has been shaped by the influence of various disciplines and their methodological approaches. This tendency is also evident in the field of community interpreting. Although qualitative research approaches are increasingly recognized as imported methodological foundations, critical and reflective discussion on their specific application remain scarce. Against this background, the primary aim of this study is to focus on qualitative research methods commonly used in interpreting studies. The widely cited works of Creswell (2023), Merriam (2018), and Gürbüz and Şahin (2018) were comparatively analysed to identify approaches that align across all three frameworks. As a result, the ethnographic and phenomenological methods, case study, content analysis, narrative interview and grounded theory were selected. The core objective of this study is to examine the extent to which these qualitative research approaches can be appropriately applied within the context of community interpreting. Using the research questions “What strategies and practices do community interpreters employ to navigate ethical dilemmas and role conflicts in asylum proceedings?” the study illustrates how the applicability of qualitative methods varies depending on theoretical perspectives and research objectives. Based on a uniform scenario, it is emphasized that the different approaches show significant variations in data collection and analysis procedures, highlighting the need for a solid methodological foundation when employing qualitative research methods. This contribution aims to provide early-career researchers with a practical orientation and to simulate further scholarly investigations and discussions in the field.