Focus group transcription

Focus group is basically a group of individuals that come together to discuss specific issues. Such focus groups may be help to discuss and understand consumer behaviour or to do market research about consumer patterns as well as trends. In focus groups around 6 to 20 individuals are gathered for the discussions. The matter discussed in these focus group meetings may be recorded in audio form. Focus group transcription refers to conversion of these audio tapes into text or word format.

Transcription of focus group meetings requires professionals trained transcriptionists. These professionals posses excellent listening and typing skills that can help them make the conversion. It may be expensive and time consuming for the companies to have in house transcriptionists. This is because transcriptionists need special equipment like good audio system, computer, foot pedal, printer etc. It may not be feasible for companies holding focus group meetings to get the equipment and to train the transcriptionists. Likewise the focus meetings may be conducted in environment where a lot of background noise commonly occurs. This includes noise of people talking to each other, indistinct speech as well as background noise. Transcription in these circumstances can only be done by experienced transcriptionists. Before selecting transcriptionists for the job it is advisable to check into the past projects completed by them. This can help in identifying the transcriptionists’ level of expertise.