Welcome to our August 2026 update for university researchers, students and academic departments.
This month’s subjects include planning transcription before research begins, improving the quality of recorded interviews and focus groups, live transcription and our latest charitable donation.
When should researchers plan transcription?
Transcription should ideally be considered before data collection begins.
Ethics applications, participant information sheets and consent forms may need to explain who will transcribe recordings, how files will be transferred and stored, and whether identifying information will be removed.
Researchers should also budget for the number and expected duration of interviews, select the appropriate transcription level and allow sufficient time for transcripts to be produced and checked.
Read our guide to planning research transcription
Recording better interviews and focus groups
Background noise, poor microphone positioning, overlapping speech and weak online connections can all affect a transcript.
A short test recording can identify many problems before an interview begins. Researchers should also position the recorder centrally, provide a list of names and terminology, and check that the file has saved correctly before participants leave.
Read the full recording guide on TP Transcription
Live transcription for research and events
The Typing Works provides on-site and remote transcription and professional reporting for research workshops, interviews, focus groups, conferences and public and patient involvement sessions.
Different options are available, ranging from a detailed contemporaneous note to a near-instantaneous transcript feed.
Learn about live transcription
Supporting Purple Patch Arts
The Ten Percent Foundation has donated £500 to Purple Patch Arts, a Yorkshire charity supporting learning-disabled people through creative and inclusive learning.
Purple Patch Arts also runs an inclusive research group which works to ensure that learning-disabled people can participate meaningfully in research.
Read about the Purple Patch Arts donation
University Transcriptions provides secure human transcription for research interviews, focus groups, lectures, conferences and other academic projects.
Request a personalised quotation or call 01745 813306 to discuss your research.
