How to Ensure High Quality Recording of Research Interviews

Interviewing a potential job candidate requires a lot of preparation. During the interview stage, numerous questions must be asked, such as why the interviewee wants the position, what skills he or she possesses, how they can show an example of working under pressure, etc. For the interviewer to choose someone who fits the criteria for the job role, interview transcription services may be necessary.

What is Interview Transcription?

When an interview is recorded, it can be referred to by the interviewer so that he or she can get a fresh insight into what was said during the discussion. A great way of comparing candidate responses, interviews can also be used to capture qualitative data for research purposes. The only issue is that sometimes, the audio recording may be disrupted by background noise, muffles, environmental sounds, etc. Interview transcription involves converting the audio into text format, so that all of the fine details can be re-read.

Research Recording Tips

For the writing to be accurate as possible, there are a few things the transcriptionist ought to do to maximize quality. The following tips will help you conduct and transcribe great research interviews:

• The Interviewee - Try not to disrupt the interviewee because as they say, truths follow silence. Nod, smile and raise your eyebrows to get a reaction instead. This will encourage him or her to talk more. Count to five when the interviewee has answered a question, so that you can get more information. It also helps to write down the questions

• The Location - Remember that the noisier the environment, the harder the transcription process will be. Conduct the interview in a non-public place, because the audio recording may pick up other people's voices in bars and cafes. The same goes for outdoor spaces, such as parks, sidewalks and beaches. A hotel room or the interviewee's home are two good options.

• The Equipment - Invest in high-quality equipment to ensure recordings are of the highest standard. Use equipment that saves the audio to a flash memory, and be sure to use an uncompressed audio format, as compressed files tend to lose their quality.