Interviewee Transcript Review as a Tool to Improve Data Quality and Participant Confidence in Sensitive Research

Abstract

Interviewee Transcript Review (ITR), a form of Respondent Validation, is a way to share and check interview transcripts with research participants. To date, the literature has considered how these practices affect data quality, focused on the ability of a participant to correct, add or remove data. Less considered is the extent to which ITR might enable sensitive research. Reporting on research examining the experiences and perspectives of different stakeholders involved in Domestic Homicide Reviews, 40 participants who took part in semi-structured interviews were offered the opportunity to review their transcripts. This paper contributes to the understanding of the use of ITR, demonstrating how it can be used to increase participant confidence to provide assurance about, and indeed active involvement in, the steps being taken to preserve their anonymity.

Help-seeking and challenges faced by transwomen following exposure to gender-based violence; a qualitative study in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, Uganda

“…Interviews conducted in the local dialect were transcribed and translated without losing meaning by qualified personnel. We used the interviewee transcript review technique to improve the rigour [ 33 ]. This was achieved by sharing and checking interview transcripts with study participants [ 34 ].…”

EFL thesis writing anxiety: Causes, effects, and coping strategies

“…The interviews were audio-taped and transcribed for data analysis. To ensure data quality, maintain research ethics, and empower the participant by giving her authority over what was written, the interview transcripts were submitted to the participant for review, allowing her to revise, add, or delete data (Mero-Jaffe, 2011;Rowlands, 2021). The narrative data were subsequently analyzed by employing thematic analysis which involved coding and categorizing excerpts and organizing them within thematic headings (Benson, 2014).…”

Whose Interpretation Matters? Centering Participants Through Observation Debrief

“…Authentic representation extends beyond determining the (subjective) truth of a participant's words or actions. In interviews, researchers may offer transcripts or excerpts for participants to review, determine accuracy, and support member checking (Mero-Jaffe, 2011;Rowlands, 2021). Sometimes more traditional observations are used to determine alignment between what a participant says and does (Corbin & Strauss, 2012).…”