Pros
it helps to correct the natural limitation of our memories and of the intuitive glosses that we might place on what people say in interviews
it allows more thorough examination of what people say
it permits repeated examinations of the interviewees’ answers
it permits repeated examinations of the interviewees’ answers
it opens up the data to public scrutiny by other researchers, who can evaluate the analysis that is carried out by the original researchers of the data (that is, a secondary analysis)
it therefore helps to counter accusations that an analysis might have been influenced by the researcher’s values or biases
it allows the data to be reused in other ways from those intended by the original researcher
Cons
it introduces a different dynamic into the social encounter of the interview, and recording equipment may be off-putting for interviewees.
transcribing is a very time-consuming process. It also requires good equipment, usually in the form of a good-quality tape recorder and microphone but also, if possible a transcription machine. Transcription also very quickly results in a daunting pile of paper.
