“Challenging” Research Practices: Turning a Critical Lens on the Work of Transcription

Abstract

This article interrogates transcription work in the context of qualitative research. Although it is common practice in academe for someone other than the researcher to transcribe tapes recorded for purposes of data collection, the author argues the importance of researchers taking seriously the ways in which the person transcribing tapes influences research data. She suggests that the transcriber's interpretive/analytical/theoretical lens shapes the final texts constructed and as a result has the potential to influence the researcher's analysis of data. Specifically, the article explores the experiences of Ken, a person hired to transcribe audiotapes of focus group interviews conducted for a larger research study. The numerous challenges Ken faced during the work are addressed. His use of voice recognition software to simplify the task is discussed as well as the educational potential transcription work holds for graduate students.

Becoming academics: experiencing legitimate peripheral participation in part-time doctoral studies

“…Through the sustained emphasis on understanding, from their multiple perspectives, Phil and Snežana questioned their assumptions and beliefs connected to the course content while increasing their ability to conduct research. Susan, whose academic research interests had always included questions of methodology and methods (Tilley 1998(Tilley , 2003a(Tilley , 2003b, was also able to continue her research interests using the context of the directed study.…”

Students’ Perspectives on Bullying

“…It is worth mentioning that I have done the transcription of all the Swedish interviews myself. The issue of transcription is not discussed or problematised that often, even though transcribing in itself can be understood as an interpretative practice, as the beginning of the analysis, and evokes ethical concerns (Kvale & Brinkmann, 2009;Lapadat & Lindsey, 1999;Mischler, 1991;Tilley, 2003). Researchers make many choices as to what to transcribe and how to do it, which affects the text that we later analyse and quote.…”

Produtivismo e avaliação acadêmica na Saúde Coletiva brasileira: desafios para a pesquisa em Ciências Humanas e Sociais

“…Como pesquisadora na tradição qualitativa, por diversas vezes vivenciei a impossibilidade (ou extrema dificuldade) de, fique claro -sem abrir mão do rigor semântico e da reflexividade -traduzir falas nativas para outros idiomas. Reflexividade aqui entendida como consciência autocrítica em todo o processo da pesquisa 16 , o que implica considerar transcrição, tradução ou "coleta de dados" como problemas teóricos 17 . A questão das traduções no escopo da pesquisa qualitativa de qualidade 18 é um desafio até mesmo para tradutores especializados e nativos; evidentemente, não pelo desconhecimento da língua, mas por questões de repertório, essenciais a estudos que lidam com linguagem, se pretendermos salvaguardar sua fidedignidade semântica.…”