Are verbatim transcripts necessary in applied qualitative research: experiences from two community-based intervention trials in Ghana
Abstract Conducting qualitative research within public health trials requires balancing timely data collection with the need to maintain data quality. Verbatim transcription of interviews is the conventional way of recording qualitative data, but is time consuming and can severely delay the availabi...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Emerging Themes in Epidemiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-022-00115-w |
| _version_ | 1797832198510870528 |
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| author | Zelee Hill Charlotte Tawiah-Agyemang Betty Kirkwood Carl Kendall |
| author_facet | Zelee Hill Charlotte Tawiah-Agyemang Betty Kirkwood Carl Kendall |
| author_sort | Zelee Hill |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Conducting qualitative research within public health trials requires balancing timely data collection with the need to maintain data quality. Verbatim transcription of interviews is the conventional way of recording qualitative data, but is time consuming and can severely delay the availability of research findings. Expanding field notes into fair notes is a quicker alternative method, but is not usually recommended as interviewers select and interpret what they record. We used the fair note methodology in Ghana, and found that where research questions are relatively simple, and interviewers undergo sufficient training and supervision, fair notes can decrease data collection and analysis time, while still providing detailed and relevant information to the study team. Interviewers liked the method and felt it made them more reflective and analytical and improved their interview technique. The exception was focus group discussions, where the fair note approach failed to capture the interaction and richness of discussions, capturing group consensus rather than the discussions leading to this consensus. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T14:03:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-01b880bba7da4746b9f264a636df7f76 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1742-7622 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T14:03:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Emerging Themes in Epidemiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-01b880bba7da4746b9f264a636df7f762023-05-07T11:05:46ZengBMCEmerging Themes in Epidemiology1742-76222022-06-011911810.1186/s12982-022-00115-wAre verbatim transcripts necessary in applied qualitative research: experiences from two community-based intervention trials in GhanaZelee Hill0Charlotte Tawiah-Agyemang1Betty Kirkwood2Carl Kendall3Institute for Global Health, University College LondonKintampo Health Research CentreLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineDepartment of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical MedicineAbstract Conducting qualitative research within public health trials requires balancing timely data collection with the need to maintain data quality. Verbatim transcription of interviews is the conventional way of recording qualitative data, but is time consuming and can severely delay the availability of research findings. Expanding field notes into fair notes is a quicker alternative method, but is not usually recommended as interviewers select and interpret what they record. We used the fair note methodology in Ghana, and found that where research questions are relatively simple, and interviewers undergo sufficient training and supervision, fair notes can decrease data collection and analysis time, while still providing detailed and relevant information to the study team. Interviewers liked the method and felt it made them more reflective and analytical and improved their interview technique. The exception was focus group discussions, where the fair note approach failed to capture the interaction and richness of discussions, capturing group consensus rather than the discussions leading to this consensus.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-022-00115-wQualitative researchMethodologyTranscriptionField notesMaternal and child healthAfrica |
| spellingShingle | Zelee Hill Charlotte Tawiah-Agyemang Betty Kirkwood Carl Kendall Are verbatim transcripts necessary in applied qualitative research: experiences from two community-based intervention trials in Ghana Emerging Themes in Epidemiology Qualitative research Methodology Transcription Field notes Maternal and child health Africa |
| title | Are verbatim transcripts necessary in applied qualitative research: experiences from two community-based intervention trials in Ghana |
| title_full | Are verbatim transcripts necessary in applied qualitative research: experiences from two community-based intervention trials in Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Are verbatim transcripts necessary in applied qualitative research: experiences from two community-based intervention trials in Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Are verbatim transcripts necessary in applied qualitative research: experiences from two community-based intervention trials in Ghana |
| title_short | Are verbatim transcripts necessary in applied qualitative research: experiences from two community-based intervention trials in Ghana |
| title_sort | are verbatim transcripts necessary in applied qualitative research experiences from two community based intervention trials in ghana |
| topic | Qualitative research Methodology Transcription Field notes Maternal and child health Africa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-022-00115-w |
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