A guide to creating an accurate written record of audio research data.
Why Is Transcription Important for Qualitative Researchers?
Many types of qualitative research produce raw data in an audio format – for example, recordings of interviews and focus groups. After creating these recordings, researchers often want to transcribe the data into a written format for further analysis, typically by coding the transcript in a software like nVivo or Atlas.ti. Therefore, researchers need to create an accurate transcription to ensure that their analysis is correct.
In the past, many qualitative researchers spent painstaking hours transcribing their recordings or hired a transcriptionist. Fortunately, automated transcribing technology has sped up this part of the process. However, when using an automated tool for transcription, researchers must be careful to check the generated transcript against the original recording to look for flaws.
How to Create a Transcript
There are several options researchers can utilize to create a transcript. What is most suitable for your project may vary depending on your methodology and research goals. Factors to consider include ethical restrictions on sharing your recordings or uploading them to cloud services. You will also want to consider if your recordings need to be translated into another language.
If you are conducting your research virtually via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, you can directly download a transcript:
In addition, there are free and paid tools you can use for transcription:
- oTranscribe: A free, open-source web app
- Transcribing using Microsoft Office 365
- Rev: A paid transcription service
- Trint: A paid transcription and translation service
- nVivo Transcription: A paid HIPAA- and GDPR-compliant transcription service
Whatever method you choose, make sure to check your final transcript for accuracy.
Source
Illinois Library. “Qualitative Data Analysis: Transcription,” February 5, 2024. https://guides.library.illinois.edu/qualitative/transcription.