16/06/2017
RECORDING AN INTERVIEW.
Here are a few tips on using a recording device for interviews as well as some benefits.
1. Location – think carefully about the location of where the interview is going to take place. Two areas which will interfere with the sound quality are public indoor areas such as restaurants and cafes and the other is outdoor public areas for example parks. Both of these types of location will have noise which you cannot control and will affect the sound quality of your audio. If you can then record in an area such as a private house, meeting room in an office or even a hotel.
2. Equipment – you can buy audio equipment quite cheaply these days and even your phone or tablet will have the capacity to be used. Dedicated audio recording equipment will have a better sound quality than your phone or table. Remember you location as to which equipment you use and always think about the position of the microphone. Ideally you need the microphone near the respondent and not in a bag or pocket.
3. The Respondent – the respondent is the person that is needed to be heard after all this is the whole point of conducting an interview. Place the microphone closest to them and have a list of questions that you ask so if you aren’t picked up that well on the recording you can refer to your list to know what the question was. Remember to let the respondent talk and try not to interrupt, ‘silence is golden’ and also encourages people to fill up a silence and so tend to open up a bit more. Try to be natural as this will help to relax the respondent and remember to give encouragement such as a nod or smile.
4. Handling the data – the benefits of using a recording means the interviewer can listen and respond better to the respondent. The discussion definitely flows better as there are no distractions. If notes are taken then some of the answers may be missed and the respondents may feel less observed and therefore more comfortable when a recording is used. After the interview than the interviewer can go back over the whole material.
5. Transcribing – transcribing the interview is when the whole recording is made into a written version. Now transcribing an interview is time-consuming so you might want to employ a professional company. It is estimated that an hour of recorded material can take up to five hours to transcribe.
At VTQS we are all experienced Transcribers so please contact us to discuss your needs.
