How to do interview transcription for a dissertation

What are the steps for transcribing interviews for dissertations?

Whether you’re transcribing an interview, focus group, or observation, the following steps will help you to get academic transcription:

1. Prepare for the transcription process :

Before beginning the transcription process, it is crucial to gather all the necessary materials and set up a comfortable and quiet workspace. This may include a computer, transcription software, an excellent audio-quality headset with a microphone, and respondents.

2. Record the interview :

Make sure to use a high-quality recording device, such as a digital voice recorder or camera for video recording, to capture the interview. A dedicated voice recorder will improve the audio quality, ensuring you get a more accurate transcription for the dissertation. During the interview, try to minimize background noise and distractions.

3. Be mindful of confidentiality:

If the interviewee has requested that their identity be kept confidential, it is vital to ensure that the transcript does not reveal their identity. This may involve using pseudonyms or omitting to identify information from the transcript.

4. Listen to the recording and start transcribing:

Begin transcribing the interview by listening to the recording and typing out what is said. It is essential to transcribe the interview verbatim, meaning that you should include every word and pause spoken during the interview. This is especially important for dissertations, as researchers need to be able to analyze the data collected from the interviews accurately.

5. Use transcription software or online tools :

Several programs and online tools, as well as transcription services, can make the transcription process easier and more efficient. After you upload your video or audio recording, they provide automatic transcription.

These tools often include features such as automatic timestamps, the ability to play the recording at different speeds, and the ability to insert speaker identification tags. Also, some of them give qualitative data analysis.

6. Follow a specific transcription style :

Researchers can use several styles, such as the American Psychological Association (APA) or the Chicago Manual of Style. Choosing a specific style and following it consistently throughout the transcription process is vital. You can also use methods such as content analysis, thematic analysis, or discourse analysis.

7. Proofread the interview transcription for the dissertation :

After transcribing the entire interview, it is essential to review and edit the transcript for accuracy and clarity. Proofreading the interview Transcription for Dissertation may involve going back and listening to the recording again to verify the transcription and formatting the transcript in a way that is easy to read and understand.

Use Ellipses to indicate when the participant is trailing off or has a longer pause at the beginning of a sentence and expresses an omission.

8. Format it to your needs :

You should now have a completely accurate and polished transcription (even if it took time). It’s now just a matter of formatting it to your specifications and ensuring it serves its intended purpose. Now, you have a recorded interview. Adjust the font and size to make it easy to read even when scanning for quick reference. Subheadings, titles, paragraphs, and page numbers should all be used.

What is interview transcription?

Interview transcription is the process of transcribing spoken language from an interview into a written or typed format. This can be a time-consuming and tedious task, and it can take a lot of time. Yet, it is essential for researchers who are conducting interviews for their dissertations.

Accurate transcription allows researchers to analyze and interpret the qualitative data collected from their interviews. It also serves as a permanent record of the interview for future reference.

What is a dissertation?

A dissertation is a long written work that presents the author’s research project and findings on a particular topic. It is typically required for students to complete to graduate from a graduate or doctoral program. A dissertation is typically a comprehensive examination of a specific subject or topic. It is typically based on original qualitative research.

What is the purpose of the dissertation?

The purpose of a dissertation is to contribute new knowledge or insights to a particular field of study, depending on the methodology. It is typically expected to significantly contribute to the existing body of research on the topic.

Why get interview transcription for a dissertation?

It is possible to return to the raw audio to pick up on subtleties of vocal expression. Vocal expressions paint a broader picture than the words spoken. Also, audio files are exceedingly challenging to parse and mine for the required information.

A transcript of your recorded interview enables you to examine the data much more quickly and in more detail.

What kind of transcription do you need?

As previously stated, the purpose of the transcription will determine the level of detail required. You have several options available to you, including:

Full-Verbatim transcription : The interview in its most raw form, including “umms,” “ahs,” pauses, false starts, and other verbal tics.

Intelligent Verbatim : Also known as ‘verbatim,’ ‘clean verbatim,’ or ‘word-for-word,’ this is a slightly more polished version of the full-verbatim script that removes all extraneous extras to make it easier to read.

Detailed Notes : You reduce the interview to a series of detailed notes. It provides quick and easy access to the required information without requiring you to parse large chunks of text.

Frequently asked questions about interview transcription for dissertation.

There are several different approaches and questions to interview transcription for the dissertation.