Recording Good Quality Interviews and Focus Groups

If you are recording interviews or focus groups for research purposes you will want to get the best possible transcripts.

Here are some tips to help ensure your recording is of the best quality which in turn will produce a higher quality, more accurate transcript.

·         Try to arrange your interview or focus group in a suitable location where there is minimal background noise.

·         Where appropriate set guidelines for the participants before starting to record: request that speakers refrain from speaking over each other, and ask them to remember that all sounds around a table will be caught on the recording and may obscure speech - cups and saucers, papers rustling, fingers drumming, feet tapping on table legs can all obscure speech.

·         Mobile phones should be removed from the table and from close proximity to the recorder; even if they do not ring interference will be picked up on the recording and obscure speech.

·         Many speakers’ voices tail off towards the end of a sentence and can become inaudible. Request that speakers speak clearly and audibly at all times.

·         If available use a good quality stereo microphone. Position the microphone at a central point between participants.

·          Where there are multiple speakers, if time allows ask each participant to introduce themself with a sentence or two, or state their name the first time they speak; this will help the transcriber to familiarise themself with each speaker's voice and assist with accurate identification.