6 Must-know Tips on Transcribing Qualitative Transcript Interviews

Transcribing qualitative interviews means turning audio interviews into written documents. This way, others can read the information, allowing for easier data analysis and a great backup in case the original audio recording ends up corrupted. So, if you are looking for practical tips for transcribing interviews for research like a pro, read on; I have you covered through this article. 

Bulletproof Tips on Transcribing Qualitative Interviews for Research

Transcribing qualitative interviews is often daunting, especially if you’re struggling with hearing what the speaker is saying. If you’ve found yourself having trouble completing a transcription segment, here are some tips that might help:

1. Listen to the Whole Recording to the End

The first step is to listen to the entire recording to the end to understand the content and context of it. This process will help you come up with a workable framework on how to transcribe the whole interview. This step also enables you to familiarize yourself with the interviewer and interviewee’s dialect and accent, helping you bypass the pronunciation barrier that can cause you to misspell the spoken words.

Listen to the audio three to four times to make your transcription process easier. If you find certain parts of the audio challenging to transcribe, write them down and replay them after listening to the recording. 

2. Write Down a First Rough Draft  

Before you begin transcribing your interview transcript, find a clean piece of paper and write down a rough draft of what the recording contains. If you are unsure what you have heard on the recording, consider rewinding it. Remember, this rough draft will help you develop the final draft. So make sure that you clearly and systematically outline all the points said in the interview recording. 

3. Write the Final Draft

On a clean piece of paper, write down the final draft of the interview transcript. For accuracy, ensure you use the rough draft from before and listen to the recording when writing down the final version. Proofread it after you’re done typing on your computer. Remember to appropriately use punctuation marks, such as question marks and commas.

4. Ensure That You Wrote Down Everything Correctly

Many often forget that they aren’t the only people who will be reading the transcribed interview. It could be a journal editor or someone else who wants to use the transcribed data. If you take away parts of the interview or change words around, it could affect how someone else interprets it. So, before you write something down, make sure that it is what was said and not what you think was said.

5. Do Not Use Biased Words

It’s important to record everything and not make biased comments while transcribing an audio-recorded interview. Your job is to accurately transcribe what the interviewee and interviewer said without prejudice. Modifying content based on your own bias can severely alter the accuracy of the resulting text. 

6. Avoid Distractions During the Process

It’s crucial to ensure you are free from distractions while transcribing a qualitative interview. You cannot work effectively on one while doing something else that compromises your cognitive functioning. So, make sure that you avoid any form of distraction and focus on listening to the audio and transcribing the content of it, which will produce a quality interview transcript.

Key Takeaway

There you have it, six practical tips for transcribing interviews for research. If you follow these tips, you’ll find that your transcription will always be accurate and 100% resourceful. You’ll get plenty more out of your research by writing down what has been said in an interview audio recording.

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