Making interview transcripts real: the reader's response. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Butler, Clare
• Is Part Of: Work, employment & society. Volume 29:Number 1(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 166
• Page End: 176
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: communication -- data analysis -- interviews -- narrative -- qualitative research -- reader-response theory -- textual communication -- transcripts; Industrial sociology -- Periodicals; Work -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Industrial relations -- Periodicals; 306.36
• DOI: 10.1177/0950017014523482
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-0170

Abstract

This research note considers how we interact with verbatim interview transcripts. Drawing on reader-response theory, the note examines the possible effect of readers' engagement with this often dysfluent talk-as-text. Lessons from the reader-response literature suggest that in realizing verbal transcripts we may be convincingly representing changed worlds to our audiences – specifically, our world and not their world. As a result of this potential hazard, this note alerts qualitative researchers to be mindful of the possible impact of engaging with talk-as-text and offers strategies to retain robustness in their research.