Major Benefits of Using Transcription in Academic Research


Major Benefits of Using Transcription in Academic Research
Beth Worthy

Beth Worthy

10/6/2021

For many years, transcription has been used to keep records of qualitative research.

Transcribed content has been found extremely useful and has been highly utilized in education and research to document academic material because it has a high value in terms of accessibility, high accuracy of recorded material, and undeniable media content.

While transcribing has many advantages in qualitative research, the actual transcription process can be tedious.

It's crucial to have good listening skills and set aside a few hours to comprehend the recordings fully.

In this situation, what does an academic researcher do to incorporate research transcription within their hectic study schedules?

They can download and use transcribing software for qualitative research as a simple approach to get the task done when working on a tight budget and in places where accuracy may not be a concern.

Otherwise, they can hire professional and qualified transcription services for research.

However, researchers are advised to use 100% human transcription services for the best results and to ensure highly accurate content.

Why should you use transcription in academic research?

Qualitative research is carried out systematically. While transcription is essential in conducting qualitative research, transcription in academic research specifically has several advantages.

Some of the major benefits of using transcription in academic research are listed below.

1. Catch every detail in the first round

Since the interview is taped, transcription services help catch every single detail by providing the interviewers with enough time to focus on their specialty rather than worrying about the speakers and writing down every detail.

Transcription also eliminates the need to rewind and replay audio/video completely, which can be time-consuming and frustrating. The transcribed texts will show who is saying what and when.

2. Devote more time to the tasks that are essential to your research

Conducting background investigation, preparing the right questions, and actually collecting qualitative data take a long time. Many hours are already invested in research interviews, lectures, and focus groups.

After that, the interviews must be transcribed, which can take multiple hours for just one hour of audio. This is a time-consuming and seemingly pointless procedure for someone who is not a professional transcriptionist.

Having professional transcribers transcribing valuable information such as surveys, mobile-based data collection, and other forms of data gathering will free up space to complete other tasks.

See Also: The Rise of Video Usage in Market Research

3. Make content instantly actionable

When it comes to quantitative data, once researchers have the information, they may respond quickly. The figures are well-defined, and trends may be discovered.

This isn't always the case with qualitative data, especially when it's been captured digitally. To access qualitative research, a researcher must put in a lot of effort. This is one of the advantages of academic transcription services.

Having access to high-quality text makes it easier to make breakthroughs and come to conclusions. All qualitative data is laid out on the table in transcriptions, making it easier for researchers to find patterns or abnormalities.

4. Make research content accessible to everyone

Transcriptions enable the general public to access the research content easily. Transcriptions generally become more useful if members of the team require assistance with the digital recordings.

Everyone will be able to fully participate in the study endeavor and contribute valuable insights. Transcriptions come in helpful whenever scholars and others seek assistance with digital recordings.

Related: What Are the Key Differences Between Primary and Secondary Research?

5. Transform content into something searchable

The review process is an important part of academic research. The team must double-check that all of the data supplied is correct.

When working with only audio and video records, this can be difficult. Because these files aren't searchable, entering a term or phrase used by a speaker won't bring up the appropriate file.

See Also: Qualitative Research Interviews for Novice Researchers

6. Transcriptions can make retrieving content easier and quicker

Several digital audio/video files could be collected in a single study endeavor. It's a tremendous pain to go through each one to double-check a single fact.

For this reason, transcriptions are a game changer. They enable researchers to search for and retrieve content quickly.

Using Human Transcription Services to Get Better Results

Qualitative research has the advantage of using human experience. Relying on human instincts to perform a task is another advantage of qualitative research.

In this situation, human verbatim transcription services can accurately detect background noises, conversation pauses, mumbled words and phrases, grammatical errors, etc. These details often prove essential for qualitative research.

However, using non-verbatim human transcription services which can eliminate and correct issues like background noises can also be equally helpful, depending on the situation.

Conclusion

A large amount of time, energy, and other resources are required to conduct an academic study. To save yourself hours of laborious transcription work, consider using a transcription service.

GMR Transcription Services, Inc. is a renowned transcription services company consisting of a team of  100% human transcriptionists, ensuring high-quality and error-free transcripts.

We also serve clients seeking academic, legal, corporate, and focus group transcription services!

Contact us now or visit our website if you are planning to use transcription in academic research.

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Beth Worthy

Beth Worthy

Beth Worthy is the Cofounder & President of GMR Transcription Services, Inc., a California-based company that has been providing accurate and fast transcription services since 2004. She has enjoyed nearly ten years of success at GMR, playing a pivotal role in the company's growth. Under Beth's leadership, GMR Transcription doubled its sales within two years, earning recognition as one of the OC Business Journal's fastest-growing private companies. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids.