Getting More Out of Your Interview Data: Toward a Framework for Debriefing the Transcriber of Interviews

Abstract

In most qualitative research studies involving the creation of interview transcriptions, researchers seldom demonstrate much reflexivity about the transcription process, rarely making mention of transcription processes as part of their reporting of data collection and analysis procedures beyond a simple statement that audio- or videotaped data were transcribed. Disturbingly, although transcription is a part of the qualitative analysis process, transcription as a research method has received scant attention in the qualitative research literature. Thus, the purpose of this article was to provide a framework for debriefing the transcriber. As part of this framework, we have designed questions for the researcher to ask the transcriber to address representation and legitimation and also to facilitate movement into a deeper investigation. Finally, we present three examples of works from the extant literature wherein the transcriber was debriefed.