Arabic Localization of PsychoPy: A Protocol for Expanding Accessibility to Research in Experimental Psychology and Neurocognitive Sciences

Ahmad Abudoush; Mohammad Alhur; Mutaz Abuhayeh; Ahmad Anabtawi

doi:10.5334/jors.575

Abstract

This project localizes PsychoPy, an open-source tool for psychological and neuroscientific research, into Modern Standard Arabic (MSA, or Fuṣḥā). The translation addresses a critical gap: prior to this work, PsychoPy supported only Japanese besides English. Arabic-specific challenges included right-to-left (RTL) script rendering in the graphical user interface, diglossia (the coexistence of Modern Standard Arabic and colloquial variants), and culturally nuanced terminology in psychological experiment contexts. A total of 2,067 software strings were translated and validated using a rigorous forward-back-translation protocol with manual verification. Validation involved back-translation by an independent bilingual researcher and consensus review by subject-matter experts to ensure technical accuracy and cultural appropriateness. The translation is managed via GitHub for version control and integrated into the main PsychoPy repository, and released in 2025.1.0. Following the Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) principles, the work promotes inclusive, equitable access to scientific tools, enhances global collaboration, and supports culturally responsive research. The documented, reusable process sets a foundation for future localization efforts in psychological software.

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Arabic Localization of PsychoPy: A Protocol for Expanding Accessibility to Research in Experimental Psychology and Neurocognitive Sciences

Abstract

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