Transcribing Interviews for Research and Journalism

Why Transcribe Research Interviews?

Interview recordings are primary sources, but:

• Analysis requires text form
• Quotes need verbatim accuracy
• Search across multiple interviews
• Citation requires timestamps or page numbers

Professional transcription is expensive. AI makes it accessible.

What You'll Need

• Interview recording(s)
• Transcription tool (we'll use VoiceScribe)
• Editing software
• Organization system

Recording Research Interviews

Equipment Recommendations

• Minimum: Smartphone voice recorder
• Better: Portable digital recorder (Zoom H1n, etc.)
• Best: Lavalier mics for each speaker

Pre-Interview Setup

• Test recording setup
• Check battery and storage
• Position mics appropriately
• Inform subject about recording
• Get consent on record

During Interview

• Monitor recording levels
• Note any issues (interruptions, ambient noise)
• Mark significant moments mentally
• Consider backup recording

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Prepare Recording for Transcription

• Export in standard format (MP3, WAV)
• Note interview metadata
• Consider breaking long interviews into segments

Step 2: Transcribe with VoiceScribe

• Go to voicescribe.app
• Upload interview recording
• Download raw transcript
• Prepare for editing

Step 3: Edit for Accuracy

Research transcripts need careful editing:

Verify key quotes

• Listen back to important sections
• Ensure exact wording for quotable material
• Note unclear sections

Add metadata

• Interview date and location
• Participant identifier (for anonymity if needed)
• Interviewer name
• Recording duration

Format consistently

• Speaker labels
• Timestamp format
• Paragraph breaks

Step 4: Prepare for Analysis

For qualitative research:

• Import into analysis software (NVivo, Atlas.ti, etc.)
• Apply initial coding if relevant
• Note initial observations

Transcription Accuracy Standards

Verbatim Transcription

Every utterance included:

• Filler words (um, uh)
• False starts
• Overlapping speech
• Non-verbal sounds [laughs], [sighs]

Used for: Conversation analysis, linguistic research

Clean Verbatim

Light editing for readability:

• Remove excessive fillers
• Fix obvious grammatical errors
• Maintain speaker voice

Used for: Most qualitative research, journalism

Summary Transcription

Key content only:

• Main points covered
• Important quotes
• Timestamps for reference

Used for: Background research, initial review

Managing Multiple Interviews

File Organization

/Research_Project
  /Recordings
    Interview_001_20250115.mp3
    Interview_002_20250116.mp3
  /Transcripts
    Interview_001_transcript.docx
    Interview_002_transcript.docx
  /Analysis
    Coded_transcripts.nvp

Naming Convention

Project_ParticipantID_Date_Type.extension

Tracking Spreadsheet

• Interview date
• Participant ID
• Duration
• Recording status
• Transcription status
• Analysis status

Ethical Considerations

Consent

• Record verbal consent at interview start
• Keep consent forms
• Explain how recording will be used

Anonymity

• Use participant IDs, not names
• Remove identifying information
• Store securely

Data Security

• Encrypt sensitive files
• Secure storage and transfer
• Limit access appropriately
• Follow institutional requirements

Common Issues

Problem: Accents or dialects reduce accuracy

Solution: Plan for more editing time. Consider speaker notes during interview.

Problem: Technical terminology wrong

Solution: Create list of terms for find/replace. Review jargon sections carefully.

Problem: Multiple speakers talking over each other

Solution: Difficult for AI. May need manual transcription for overlapping sections.

For Journalists Specifically

Speed vs Accuracy Trade-off

• Breaking news: Quick clean transcription
• Long-form pieces: More careful verification
• Quotable material: Always verify

Source Protection

• Secure recording and transcript
• Consider auto-delete for sensitive material
• Anonymize when needed

Verification

• Verify quotes before publication
• Note context for quotes
• Consider sending quotes for approval (when appropriate)

Conclusion

Transcribing interviews transforms recordings into workable research data. AI transcription dramatically speeds this process while maintaining reasonable accuracy.

The key is matching your transcription approach to your research needs and always verifying critical quotes manually.