I always suggest that transcription be done as soon after the interview as possible Whenever I schedule an interview I always allow the time for the interview then two hours immediately after for initial transcription. In qualitative research this means initial transcription and analysis as you should be interpreting the data as you process it. noting themes as they emerge or making notes in the form of memos to yourself. More detail is provided in Part 4 when we look at qualitative analysis, but for now I would ask you to consider seriously the interview and the initial transcription as a single activity