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Tips for recording

To ensure we can provide you with the best possible transcript, we would request you follow the tips below when recording an interview:

1.
Do a test run - most of the following
    can be avoided if you do a test before
    the interview.

2. Have the microphone close to the
    interviewee(s).
3. Ensure you are in a quiet area.
4. Keep the microphone away from noisy
    machinery.
5. Do not talk over other speakers.
6. Try not to have papers near the
    microphone, shuffling pages or
    writing can drown out what is said.
7. If possible do not have tea/coffee or
    other drinks. Crockery can make a lot
    of noise if near the microphone. Cups
    being placed on saucers or teaspoons
    being knocked etc., can 
momentarily
    deafen the typist!
 

 
 
 
 

 
Researchers

Introduction

If you have recorded interviews or focus/discussion groups, apa secretarial can provide a word-for-word transcript, saving you time and money.

We have extensive experience with transcribing recorded interviews and focus/discussion groups for qualitative research. We have also provided many transcripts of dictation, recordings of public lectures, seminars, events, etc.


Confidentiality
We understand that the interview is confidential and therefore the interviewee and researcher are not identified throughout the transcript. Unless otherwise requested we use the following identifiers:

R = the researcher/interviewer
I = the interviewee

If there is more than one interviewee then we add sequential numbers for each one: I1, I2, I3, etc.

apa secretarial accepts both digital and tape recordings, as follows:


Audio recordings
  • standard size cassette
  • mini and micro dictation tapes
  • VHS video
  • audio recorded CDs and DVDs


  • Digital recordings
  • Olympus .dss
  • Sony .dvf and .msv
  • .wav
  • .mp3
  • .wma

  • If you have not started the recordings then may we request that you note our "Tips for recording" on the left.


    "How long will the transcript take?"
    This is probably the question we are asked most often, and it is very difficult to give a definitive all-encompassing answer because every recording is different. However, as a guideline and assuming the recording is of a high quality and all speakers can be heard clearly then we would estimate the following:
    • Dictation/Lectures/Seminars - if you have one or more people speaking for a significant length of time (say 15 minutes each), without being interrupted, etc., then these take three to four times the length of the recording (i.e. a 1 hour lecture will take 3 to 4 hours). If there is a question and answer session then this will usually take between four and five times the length of the recording to complete.
    • One-to-one interviews - these will usually take four to five times the length of the recording.
    • Focus/Discussion groups - these can easily be more than five or six times the length of the recording. Despite the researcher's best efforts people will interrupt and speak over the top of each other. Obviously, the higher the number of people in the focus group the longer the transcription will take. For high numbers of speakers (say six or more) we would request to hear a sample of the recording before giving an accurate quotation.


    Remember: the times quoted above are only rough guides and are highly dependent on the quality of the recording. We cannot give an accurate quotation until hearing a sample of the recordings.

    As mentioned above, our standard practice is to provide a word-for-word transcript. This means all words spoken (not including hesitation sounds such as  "erm", "er", etc.) are transcribed. However, if required we will be more than happy to provide a transcript that includes all the hesitation sounds.
     
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