© John Benjamins (please refer to and cite the published version) Ehrensberger-Dow, Maureen (2018). Process research. In: Lieven D’hulst & Yves Gambier (eds), A History of Modern Translation Knowledge: Sources, Concepts, Effects Amsterdam: John Benjamins. 293-300. 10.1075/btl.142.40ehr Chapter 5.2 Process Research Maureen Ehrensberger-Dow 1. Introduction/definition Process research involves the systematic investigation of how translation products come into being. The defining characteristic of all process research is a focus on translating as an activity rather than on translation as a product or as a societal phenomenon. Although often most strongly associated with expertise and cognitive research (see Shreve, present volume), process research is actually related to many aspects of translation studies. Depending on the interests of the scholars involved, the object of study can range from the micro level of an individual translator’s decision making to the macro level influences on that translator’s process, such as context, organization, and societal expectations. Process research can also include what in localization contexts is sometimes referred to as the translation lifecycle, covering the stages from when a decision is made that a translation is needed until the delivery of the final target text. In his seminal mapping of the discipline of translation studies, Holmes referred to process- oriented descriptive translation studies as being concerned with the “process or act of translation itself” and “what exactly takes place in the ‘little black box’ of the translator’s ‘mind’ as he [sic] creates a new, more or less matching text in another language” (1972/2000: 177). More recently, Vandepitte (2008: 576) has suggested in her ontology that process-oriented translation studies is one of four foci of the discipline (the others are matter-oriented, cause-oriented, and result- oriented translation studies), and encompasses research into translation competence (development), translation teaching, and the profession. As explained in the next section, process research has evolved in line with technological developments in data collection and methodological developments with respect to what phenomena are considered relevant. Much of