As Hammersly (2010) mentioned in the article, there are critical decisions in transcription process. For me the most important two of those decisions are:
1) How much of the audio record will I transcribe? If I won't transcribe all of them, which sections will I transcribe and how will I decide those sections?
2) How much detail (i.e. utterances, etc.) will I include in my transcription?
In my dissertation data, I have almost 12-hours audio record for the group discussion of each group. I have at least 2 hours whole class discussion, and records of group interviews and individual interviews. In addition to those, I have a lot of written data.
I have to start transcribing soon, but this turned to be a nightmare: Where to start making decisions? How to explain the rationale of my decisions?
Moreover, all of those records are in Turkish. So after I transcribe, I should translate and ensure the validity of my translation by finding a second researcher knowing both language. This issue also leads me to be more selective for the parts that I will translate.
I am assuming that I overcame this problem and decided on the parts of the records to transcribe and then translate. Then my next question will be: Should I accept that my data composed of only those transcribed parts? Or can I still analyze other parts which were not transcribed?
I know there is a debate on this issue in qualitative research. At least, I know that current technology allows us to code audio and video data as well as visual images. However, I do not know how to defend my position if I want to analyze those non-transcribed sections of audio records.
I think Markle, West and Rich's discussion will help me to describe and justify my position on analyzing untranscribed data. However, I currently haven't finished this week's readings. I am hoping to learn about those as I read more about it in this course.
References that will probably help me to explain my rationalization:
Hammersley, M. (2010). Reproducing or constructing? Some questions about transcription in social research. Qualitative Research 10(5), 553-569.
Markle, West & Rich (2011). Beyond transcription: Technology, change and refinement of method. FORUM: Qualitative Social Research 12(3), Art. 21.
Serife, your post reflects well the idea that transcription is always already a positional and situated act. We should talk more about how you can go about rationalizing your decision to directly code data, as there are reasons (at times) when this is particularly useful.
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