Hello #qualitative #research #academictwitter #MedEd ! Has COVID shifted you to Zoom and Phone interviews? Here are some tips to ensure that your interviews result in great transcripts (1/)

Before you start, think about your setup. What device(s) are you using for audio and/or video?
How are you planning to take notes?
Where will your note taking technologies be used relative to your audio/video devices (both for the call and the recording)?

One drawback of using video technologies for interviews is that sounds don't layer well together. So participant talking + keyboard clacking/pen scritching makes for difficult transcription.

Got your physical space sorted out? Once you get on the call, warm 'em up. It might add a bit of time, but don't underestimate the importance of the rapport building... Obvs this is important in any interview, but it serves a dual purpose.. You can test the sound quality upfront.

It's much easier to interrupt your respondent to troubleshoot the tech if they're making small talk. It'll keep your flow going too. If the tech's not working for you, pivoting during the pre-invu chatter keeps the disruptions to a minimum once you're into the meat of the convo.

Weigh the pros and cons of using video versus not: You might decide that eye contact and visual data is important, even if it impacts the audio quality. Or the visuals might matter less, but the data coming from the participant is the key. Worth thinking about for your protocol.

Okay. So, the tech's good! You've started the interview. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- The sound layering issues I mentioned before include mm hmm's. If possible, wait until your invuee has finished talking before mm hmm'ing.

Create rapport by paraphrasing! Another dual purpose tip: beyond demonstrating that you're listening, that paraphrase can provide vital clues if the audio quality is less than ideal. Especially repeating back technical words and acronyms.

When you commission your transcription person, ask them to time stamp the sound distortions in the transcript. If you've been taking notes in a chronological/linear way, you can triangulate the gaps in the transcript with your rough notes.

Those background noises that you hear on the line? The transcriptionist can hear them too. When you're scheduling invus, you might want to remind your invuees about the importance of minimizing background noise (like traffic noises)...

This is a different matter than the guest children and pets that periodically make an appearance. (As an aside, I love transcribing children's contributions, whether intended or not. God bless the children of the interviewers and the interviewees.)

At the end of the day, some of the noise distortion might be out of your control entirely. That's okay. Telling the transcriptionist up front is helpful (I really appreciate it!).

I hope that this thread has been helpful - have questions? Don't hesitate to ask!
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