A preliminary examination of conversation analytic techniques: Rates of inter-transcriber reliability

Conversation analysis has enjoyed recent acceptance in mainstream communication research. Despite successes, it remains criticized by quantitative researchers for a variety of reasons. One such reason is that, to date, conversation analysts have not felt obligated to demonstrate "inter-transcri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Western journal of communication 1996-03, Vol.60 (1), p.76-91
Main Authors: Patterson, Brian R., Neupauer, Nicholas C., Burant, Patricia A., Koehn, Steven C., Reed, April T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Coding
College Students
Communication
Communication (Thought Transfer)
Communication Research
Conversation analysis
Conversational Analysis
Higher Education
Intertranscriber Reliability
Intonation
Observation
Pauses
Reliability
Research Methodology
Researchers
Transcription Method
Transcripts (Written Records)
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Summary:Conversation analysis has enjoyed recent acceptance in mainstream communication research. Despite successes, it remains criticized by quantitative researchers for a variety of reasons. One such reason is that, to date, conversation analysts have not felt obligated to demonstrate "inter-transcriber" reliability for the use of transcription notation. This paper argues for determining ways to address this criticism. Toward that end, 22 participants were asked to transcribe a randomly selected segment of naturally occurring conversation. The transcripts were compared and percentages of agreement were computed for overall agreement as well as agreement regarding verbal content, pauses, overlaps, and intonation. Additionally, education level was considered as a predictor of transcription agreement. Results indicate that multiple transcribers are capable of producing similar transcripts within the acceptable tolerances of a priori coding schemes. With the exception of pauses, all transcription notations were agreed upon at a rate of 75% or better. The data also suggest that there is very little difference in transcript accuracy rates between undergraduates and graduate students. Thus, education level on this dimension does not appear to have an affect.
ISSN:1057-0314
1745-1027
DOI:10.1080/10570319609374534