Transcription for focus groups

• Microphone in the middle: an omnidirectional or boundary microphone in the center of the table, or two recorders at either end.
• A quiet room without echo; avoid cafés and open-plan spaces.
• Turn-taking: ask at the start that people don't talk over each other. It's the biggest source of errors.
• Remotely, record the video call (Zoom, Teams or Meet) and ask each participant to use a headset.
• Do a 30-second sound check before you start.

1. 1Upload the full recording (up to 5 hours per file).
2. 2Choose the language and press Transcribe.
3. 3Review while listening: add each participant's code (P1, P2…) at the start of their turns.
4. 4Anonymize names and identifying details and download as Word for analysis.

For now the transcript doesn't label each participant automatically, which matters in a group of 6–8 people. Three tricks help a lot:

• Have the moderator name whoever gets the floor ("Laura, what do you think?").
• Have each participant say their name or code the first time they speak.
• Have an assistant note the speaking order with the time; with the transcript's timestamps it's quick to cross-reference.

Download the Word file and import it into NVivo, ATLAS.ti or MAXQDA for coding. If the group is part of a dissertation or thesis, also follow the research transcription guide (consent, anonymization and how to explain it in your methodology). For one-to-one interviews, see interview transcription.