Sacred Psychoanalysis - etheses Repository - University of ...

The interviews were recorded using a Sony mini-disc recorder (offering a compact size and
high-quality inbuilt microphone tested beforehand) and an Olympus digital recorder as a
backup recording device. 352 The process of transcription involved the following stages.
• Due to the development of a repetitive strain injury that impaired my ability to use a
mouse and keyboard, the initial transcripts were done by: a professional typist; a part-
time secretary; and a paid postgraduate student. 353
• I finalized the uncorrected draft transcript as I listened to the recording overcoming the
limitation of the initial text being produced by others. During this process I made notes
of my thoughts, feelings and associations re-activated by immersion in the interview. I
then listened to the interview again and corrected my earlier draft. I discovered that I
needed to re-insert grammatical mistakes, pauses uhms etc. that the first typist had
automatically corrected. When I discussed this with her she had not been conscious of
doing this.
• While not done as a pilot interview, the final text of the initial interview with DB was
sent to him and he offered one correction from his memory and commented how
accurately the text appeared as a record of what he had experienced. The provision of
this helpful feedback gave me confidence that the method adopted was effective and
reliable.
• The final transcript was read, as I immersed myself in the data. The transcript was re-
read and a line-by-line summary written. Alongside the line-by-line summary, other
reflections and emerging themes were noted on a large sheet of paper but not organized
into a structure.
352 This was even more compact in size, also with a high-quality microphone although it is so compact that the
recording button is very small – leading to the failure of this device or rather the operator in one interview.
353 I had not guaranteed the interviewees confidentiality as they agreed to be named in the thesis. However in
future I would include a clause in the ethical agreement to specifically cover this eventuality.
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