Transcribing Interviews – A 5-Step Guide

Transcribing interviews is a key methodology used in qualitative research to convert spoken language into written text, enabling a detailed and thorough analysis. It is a systematic approach to gather and interpret rich, nuanced data, serving as an essential step in understanding participants’ perspectives and experiences. Also, it is usually done word for word and is a common practice in conducting interviews. This article provides a comprehensive guide for transcribing interviews.

Definition: Transcribing Interviews

Transcribing interviews is converting the speech into a written document, word for word. Thus, interview transcribing helps you analyse the data collected during the interview. Interview transcription typically involves the following five steps:

1. Selecting the ideal transcription method
2. Using transcription software to transcribe the speech or audio
3. Formatting the transcript (adding the speaker designation and time stamps)
4. Clarifying the text
5. Proofreading

Step 1 of transcribing interviews – Choosing a method

The first thing you should do before you begin transcribing interviews is to choose the transcription method you want to use. Basing your choice on the goal of your transcription would be wise. Below are some of the top methods you should consider.

Verbatim transcription

This method for transcribing interviews involves writing down every single word in the recording. Additionally, it includes emotional expressions like laughter, pauses, and hesitations, like (eeh..).

Verbatim transcription is commonly applied in the legal field. However, it is also an ideal technique for research where you are interested in what was said and how it was said.

Intelligent verbatim transcription

This is the most common method of transcribing interviews, especially in research. Intelligent verbatim transcription involves writing down every word, without irrelevant fillers, like hesitations, and words with no meanings, like ‘ehe’.

The goal of removing the filler or irrelevant words is to make the transcription more readable than verbatim. However, in intelligent verbatim transcription, you lose elements like emotions, hesitation, surprises, or pauses.

Edited transcription

Edited transcription involves writing an edited or summarized version of an intelligent verbatim transcript. Thus, aside from omitting irrelevant fillers, you also remove sentences that do not change the story’s meaning. You can use this method if you want your transcript to be straightforward and not as long.

Step 2 of transcribing interviews – Changing the script

Once you have determined the ideal method of transcription you want to use and transcribed the speech, the next step is altering the script. While this step is not mandatory, you may need to apply it if the audio quality is poor or if the conversation in the audio needs clarification. For instance, you can change the script if the audio does not indicate the speaker and can be confusing.⁴

Some changes you can make to the script before transcription include:

• Adding a clarifying note, like “I asked him (the manager) to show me the proof.” The words “the manager” is the clarifying note.
• Clarifying important unspoken gestures, like “This (points at the date 14th May) is when I asked him to show me the proof.”
• Using ellipses to mark unclear or missing parts of the audio, like “I asked him…..me the proof.”
• Emphasizing words, for instance, I asked him to show me the proof.

Step 3 of transcribing interviews – Formatting the script

After altering the script, the next step is to format it. While there are no specific rules on how interview transcriptions should be formatted, you can do things like:

• Adding or making anonymous the names of the interviewer and interviewee
• Adding the date and time when the interview happened
• Indicating the location
• Indicating the speaker designation (Who says what in the interview)

Step 4 of transcribing interviews – analysing the transcript

After preparing the complete transcription, the next step is to analyse the script. You can use various techniques, like coding and categorization.

The coding and categorization analysing technique is where you link keywords to the answers you received from the interviewee. Doing this will help you link the connection between the answers of different correspondents. For instance, you can link the keywords “employee productivity” to the answers.

Other methods you can use are:

• Content analysis
• Thematic analysis
• Discourse analysis

Step 5 of transcribing interviews – Using transcription software

Transcribing interviews is more complex than it seems. For instance, the process takes time and requires incredible levels of accuracy. For these reasons, transcription software exists. You can use the software to develop transcriptions quickly. Good software for interview transcription should offer high accuracy levels. An accurate software features the following elements:

• Speaker recognition
• Editing
• Stuttering omitting
• Comment and highlight element
• Correct capitalization
• Correct punctuation