In the past, the interviewer had to write down what the interviewee said. However, this would often pose a challenge because it is difficult to keep up with the interviewee response speed. Besides, the interviewer might only write down what they feel is relevant, which may lead to loss of important data. Now, it is possible to record voices, which makes transcription easier. Read on to learn more about interview transcripts.
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Common Questions about Interview Transcripts
An interview transcript is necessary because it makes work easier. It is easy to read a transcribed piece of work as opposed to picking up your earphones every time you need to write down something from the recorded interview.
Ideally, you should be able to show when different speakers talk as well as time stamps. Each new idea is often written as a new paragraph. Since interviews are usually in a question and answer format, make sure to write each question asked as well as the answer given by the respondent. When transcribing, accuracy has to be maintained so that no data gets lost in the process.
An interview transcript requires attention to detail. As such, make sure that you have a conducive working environment. Also, invest in quality headsets that minimise background noises. You can also use software to help you transcribe. Most importantly, you need to practice your typing speed and accuracy.
A lot of factors should be considered before deciding when to convert your recorded interview into an interview transcript. For instance, if you are on a tight budget, and you need to hire a professional transcriber, then you should give yourself enough time, because the urgency determines the cost. Another factor is the number of audio hours you need to transcribe, and most importantly, the style of transcription you want, something that is often dictated by your area of study.
If you have time, you can transcribe your audio. However, if time is not on your side, you can choose to outsource your work. Before you decide on where to outsource, you have to ask the transcriber about the software they use or even about the safety of your data and personal information. Most legitimate transcribers do not use clients’ data to their benefit.
What is an interview transcript?
Transcribing an interview entails transforming the recorded audio into text without affecting the accuracy of the content. Ideally, it is easier to read an interview transcript than it is to listen to audio, which is why transcripts are preferred. Here are other uses of an interview transcript.
Research
Individuals such as students or journalists, who use recorded data for research purposes, find it easier to use an interview transcript as opposed to listening to audio files. Imagine what a daunting task it would be to have to listen to hours and hours of recorded audio. You will need to replay and rewind multiple times before you get the information you require.
Reference and preservation of evidence
It is easier to keep an interview transcript for future reference. Courts and police stations often keep interview transcripts from recorded audios from suspects and witnesses. The transcripts are easier to retrieve when they’re needed, even years later. For the same reason, transcripts are required from students during interviews, especially when defending their dissertations.
Data analysis and interpretation
It is easier to analyse data that has been transcribed as opposed to using recorded audio or video. An analyst can easily go through a written document and deduce findings easily.
Easier follow up
An interview transcript is often used by court judges and employers to follow up on the responses given by the interviewees. In the case of employers, it enables them to select the best candidate based on their responses. In courts, the jury is able to determine whether a suspect is guilty or not depending on the information presented by the accuser and the witnesses.
Who requires an interview transcript?
An interview transcript is necessary for journalists because they do a lot of interviews. It becomes easier for journalists to use transcripts for research because it is easier to code written information. Employers also use an interview transcript from a recorded audio during an interview. A student also submits the interview transcript when presenting their dissertations before the board of examiners.
Use Software for your Interview Transcript
It has now become easier to create interview transcripts due to the availability of different software. If you have previously transcribed an audio file, then you understand how tasking and time-consuming it is. Automated software for interview transcripts is fast and reliable.
Most software uses different technologies for the transcription process. Some use voice and speech recognition, while others work by expanding speech as you type. Use of software in transcription is crucial because it helps you infer even some of the most technical terms in different fields such as medicine, engineering or law.
There are different types of transcription software. Some are free while others are commercial and you have to pay for them. Some software can only be used online. Others allow you to transcribe while offline. As such, it is paramount that you choose software that suits your transcription needs. Of course, different software works differently. You therefore have to conduct thorough research to understand how each works, as well as study the pros and cons.
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Benefits of using software for Interview Transcripts
There are many benefits to using software for your interview transcript as discussed here.
Saves time
Imagine that you have audios recorded for one hour. How long would you take to transcribe them manually? Definitely, it would be time-consuming and also costly. A software transcribes using the shortest time in comparison to a manual interview transcript.
High-quality interview transcript
Interviews have become the norm of collecting data, particularly for research purposes. It is therefore crucial that the recorded data is transcribed with utmost accuracy and efficiency. Software is the best bet when it comes to the production of a high-quality interview transcript.
Stress-free interview transcription
A manually transcribed interview transcript is stressful because the transcriber has to spend many hours trying to listen to and understand the vocabulary. Besides, at the end of the work, the transcriber has to edit and use the right punctuation. Finally, proofreading is required to achieve a high-quality interview transcript. All these different components can be tasking and it may even take days or weeks to achieve the desired results.
The interview transcript for your thesis
A thesis is an academic paper that often contains a student’s original findings. As such, it is required that scholars back up their theories and findings with evidence. The backing is often in the form of interviews or audio recordings. Students are required to present an interview transcript alongside their thesis document.
Basically, there are no set rules for doing an interview transcript. However, you have to maintain consistency and accuracy throughout your transcript. As such, when identifying the speakers, you have to come up with a uniform way of identifying them. You may decide to write the real names of your interviewers. But, if the document is to be published, ensure that you make your respondents anonymous to maintain confidentiality.
Interviews are conducted using a question and answer format. Hence, you should write down the name of the interviewer, and place a colon before the question. The same case applies to the respondent. Here is an example.
Interviewer: What is your name?
Respondent: My name is John Doe.
You may also choose to find a way of differentiating between what the interviewer says from what the interviewee says by using italics or bold. The most crucial part of creating a quality interview transcript for your thesis is consistency and accuracy.
Interview transcript in a nutshell
An interview transcript is common in journalism, medicine, law, and even among students, especially when submitting their thesis. An interview transcript should be accurate. Manual transcription can be hard. However, software packages are available: some are free, others are commercial, some are offline and others can only be used online. All the same, software gives an accurate interview transcript, saves time, and is stress-free to use.
