FOCUS GROUP / FORUM / WORKSHOP TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES

Over the years we have transcribed focus groups, workshops, forums and roundtable discussions on a wide variety of topics, including local authority meetings, vets' focus groups, research organisation workshops, pet food customer feedback, mystery shopper forums, market research sessions, product feedback focus groups, and marketing round table discussions, to name a few. Please view our Testimonials page to see comments from our clients.

As with all group meetings, focus groups present their own particular challenges. Participants tend to talk over each other, especially when they become animated or angry. Coupled with any background noise, this can add to the challenge of transcribing. We appreciate it's not possible to cut out all background noise, but we believe that our experience in this area gives us an advantage in providing a first class focus group transcription service. We are committed to providing a transcript which is as accurate and complete as the recording circumstances allow.

Whatever your length of focus group or forum, be it a few hours or a full day, we pride ourselves on our project management experience and flexibility to meet your deadlines. We can provide focus group transcription from a wide variety of recordings. Digital recordings undoubtedly produce the clearest quality of recording (and for this format we can provide a per audio minute price). Take a look at our comparison between digital and analogue recordings.

However, we are equipped to cope with audio tape transcription as well as video formats, but clients should be aware of the extra transcription time this might involve. As with all multi-voice recordings, the key factor in determining how clear the final recording turns out to be is the number of external microphones and the facilitation of the group as a whole. We have produced detailed Guidelines specifically designed to make your focus group as trouble free as possible. We cover steps you should take before, during and after the focus group. After all, there's no point in going to all the trouble and expense of arranging a focus group if the recording and facilitation let you down. Our Equipment pages may also be helpful, especially when considering microphones.

That's what we can provide - what we need from you is an agenda or discussion guide, so we can see the question order. We also need a list of keywords that might crop up (this is especially helpful if discussing branded products), and the names of participants - IF you require speakers to be identified.

We would advise you to think very carefully about the transcript style you need for your focus group transcription. Our standard format is intelligent verbatim, which is the most cost effective option and we can tailor this for focus groups and workshops. If you don't require individual speakers to be identified by name, each comment will be listed separately. This can significantly cut down on costs and time taken to transcribe any focus group. We've found that most clients only need individual comments, as participants of focus groups generally take part on the understanding that their contributions will be anonymised anyway.

Focus Group Transcription Services	Price Range Per Audio Minute (digital recordings only & based on Intelligent Verbatim transcripts+)
For focus groups / forums / workshops / roundtable discussions transcription Standard rate Discounted rate *	£2.00 - £3.00 £1.90 - £2.50
Please note: these rates apply only to good quality, clearly audible digital or minidisc recordings. The price range is designed to cover issues such as background noise, strong accents and technical terms. Should the subsequent recording prove to be not as described, we will requote and discuss this with you before proceeding. For audio tape transcription, we charge an hourly rate. See our Transcription Times page for the factors which influence transcription. All prices are in £ Sterling and VAT is NOT applicable. For video recordings of focus groups, please see our Video / DVD section. + Please add 50p per audio minute (25p discounted) for Complete Verbatim or 25p per audio minute (10p discounted) for Edited Transcript, or a transcript with participants identified. See our Definitions page for details of what each transcript style means.
* The discounted rate applies only to universities, charities and students. All prices assume a good quality, clearly audible digital recording.

ALL RECORDINGS are listened to a second time, Internet research is carried out to identify names or terminology, and all transcripts are proofread by the Director, Irene Boston, before being sent to clients. There is no extra charge for this service. Not all transcription companies do this; some don't even proofread so make sure you ask the right questions before choosing a service.

If you are using a digital format for your focus group recording, you can Upload the files securely via this website to ensure prompt delivery to our transcription team. We can also download your audio sound files directly from your website if you prefer, or you can post CDs. Should your focus group, workshop or forum have been recorded on standard audio tapes or minidiscs, we always convert any audio tape and minidisc recordings into digital format, but this is only possible with a clear recording. Subsequently, we can provide you with that digital re-recording free of charge.

As focus groups can be quite lengthy, resulting in a substantial length of recording, we recommend that you contact us as early as possible before the event. This allows us to reserve space for you in our schedule. Waiting until a series of focus groups is completed, and then trying to find an experienced transcriber at short notice for a quick turnaround could be difficult. Most established, professional transcription companies have a long list of regular customers and to suddenly find a block of free space may not be possible. So book your transcription company in advance, the same way you would the event venue.

We have a standard script style layout for all focus groups, but we are also happy to work in your house style. As with all our transcriptions, we provide a Transcript Code on each document to signify areas which are inaudible or unclear.

We hope that this provides you with a thorough overview of our focus group transcription services. Feel free to call (01485 543746) or email us for a detailed quote based on your specific requirements and turnaround times based on our current schedule, or browse our Overview or FAQ pages.