A study note on performing research interview findings reporting in a focused and concise way: for MBA students

A study note on performing research interview findings reporting in a focused and concise way: for MBA students (information from poe.com)

My question 1: "Some of my part-time MBA students are concerned about the substantial effort required to transcribe Research Interview content, including the translation of the Chinese interview content into English as well as the reporting of the Interview content (if all the Interview content is to be included in the dissertation report). My question is: are there ways and steps the dissertation students can adopt to produce more concise Research Interview content (in English) and subsequently report the Interview findings (highlights) in the dissertation reporting?"

The reply: "Here are several steps your MBA students can take to produce more concise Research Interview content and effectively report their findings in their dissertations:

1. Preparation Before Interviews

• Create a Focused Interview Guide: Develop clear, open-ended questions that target specific themes or topics to minimize off-topic discussions.
• Limit Interview Length: Aim for interviews that are concise (e.g., 30-60 minutes) to reduce the volume of transcription required.

2. Efficient Transcription

• Use Transcription Software: Utilize tools like Otter.ai or Sonix for automated transcription, which can save time.
• Summarize Key Points: Instead of transcribing verbatim, focus on summarizing key insights or themes.

3. Translation Process

• Hire Professional Translators: If budget allows, consider hiring professionals for accurate translations.
• Use Translation Tools: For less formal needs, tools like Google Translate can help, but always have a native speaker review the output.

4. Content Analysis

• Thematic Analysis: Identify key themes and patterns from the interviews to focus on the most relevant information.
• Highlight Quotes: Select impactful quotes that encapsulate key findings without requiring extensive context.

5. Reporting Findings

• Use an Executive Summary: Start the findings section with a brief overview of the key insights from the interviews.
• Organize by Themes: Structure the reporting around major themes or questions to enhance clarity and conciseness.
• Visual Aids: Consider using tables or bullet points to summarize findings, making them easier to digest.

6. Iterative Review

• Peer Review: Encourage students to share drafts with peers or mentors for feedback on clarity and conciseness.
• Revisions: Allow time for multiple revisions to ensure the content is focused and relevant.

7. Final Presentation

• Clear and Concise Writing: Encourage students to write in a straightforward manner, avoiding jargon and unnecessary complexity.
• Consistent Formatting: Use a consistent format for presenting interview findings, which helps with readability.

By adopting these strategies, your students can streamline the transcription and reporting process, making their research more manageable and focused."

My question 2: "Could you provide a few brief examples to illustrate your advice? Tks in advance."

The reply: "Here are some brief examples to illustrate the advice provided:

1. Focused Interview Guide

• Question Example: Instead of asking, "What do you think about your job?" ask, "What are the three main challenges you face in your current role?"

2. Efficient Transcription

• Summarization: If an interviewee discusses multiple points about team dynamics, summarize as follows:
  • Original: "I find that communication is often lacking, and it leads to misunderstandings. We also struggle with deadlines because of this."
  • Summary: "Interviewee highlighted communication issues as a key challenge affecting team deadlines."

3. Translation Process

• Quote Example: A Chinese interviewee says, "团队合作的重要性不容忽视."
  • Translation: "The importance of teamwork cannot be overlooked."
• Summarized Context: "Interviewee emphasized the critical role of teamwork in achieving project success."

4. Content Analysis

• Thematic Analysis:
  • Theme: Leadership Styles
  • Key Insight: "Many interviewees preferred participative leadership, citing increased engagement and innovation."

5. Reporting Findings

• Executive Summary:
  • "The interviews revealed three primary challenges: communication barriers, time management, and resource allocation."
• Organized by Themes:
  • Communication: "Most participants noted that unclear communication led to project delays."
  • Time Management: "Several interviewees mentioned struggles with prioritizing tasks."

6. Iterative Review

• Feedback Example: "Consider clarifying your findings by adding a table that summarizes key insights for each theme."

7. Final Presentation

• Concise Writing:
  • Original: "In my opinion, I believe that effective leadership is really very important for team success."
  • Revised: "Effective leadership is crucial for team success."

These examples illustrate how to apply the strategies for producing concise content and effective reporting in a dissertation."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.