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Family Practice Advance Access published online on February 27, 2008
Family Practice, doi:10.1093/fampra/cmn003
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© 2008 The Authors
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/uk/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

First steps in qualitative data analysis: transcribing

Julia Bailey

Level 2, Holborn Union Building, Highgate Hill, London N19 3UA, UK. Email: j.bailey{at}pcps.ucl.ac.uk

Received 5 June 2007; Revised 2 November 2007; Accepted 8 January 2008.


  Abstract

Qualitative research in primary care deepens understanding of phenomena such as health, illness and health care encounters. Many qualitative studies collect audio or video data (e.g. recordings of interviews, focus groups or talk in consultation), and these are usually transcribed into written form for closer study. Transcribing appears to be a straightforward technical task, but in fact involves judgements about what level of detail to choose (e.g. omitting non-verbal dimensions of interaction), data interpretation (e.g. distinguishing ‘I don't, no’ from ‘I don't know’) and data representation (e.g. representing the verbalization ‘hwarryuhh’ as ‘How are you?’).

Representation of audible and visual data into written form is an interpretive process which is therefore the first step in analysing data. Different levels of detail and different representations of data will be required for projects with differing aims and methodological approaches. This article is a guide to practical and theoretical considerations for researchers new to qualitative data analysis. Data examples are given to illustrate decisions to be made when transcribing or assigning the task to others.

Keywords. Audio recording, data transcription, data analysis, qualitative research, video recording.

Bailey J. First steps in qualitative data analysis: transcribing. Family Practice 2008; Pages 1–5 of 5.


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Transcription of Qualitative Research Data
Christian T. K.-H. Stadtländer
Family Practice, 30 Jun 2008 [Full text]

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