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Basics of Recording and Recording Equipment
Audio or video?
An extremely important step in the research process is making a decision about what type of data to collect and how. It is often tempting to record only audio as it can seem less intrusive for participants than filming video. However, more and more researchers are interested not only in oral language, but also in multimodal aspects of interactions. Aspects such as body position, gaze, facial expression, the manipulation of objects, etc., are being taken more and more seriously and might be essential to you being able to fully answer the research questions you ask. For this reason, if video recordings are not a problem for your participants, they are highly recommended.
GET TO IT!
But audio is enough for me...
Using your mobile phone, record a short, informal conversation between people you know.
Place the phone where you can’t see it. Listen just to the audio and try to answer these questions:
- How does one person know when the other has finished talking?
- How does one person let the other know they want to take a turn talking?
- How does one person let the other know they are listening to them talk?
Now watch the video. Notice the use of nodding, gaze, body positioning, etc.
How does your analysis of turn taking change?
Whether you are recording audio or video, it is always important to have a backup recorder, just in case. It is also important to put careful thought into where you place the recorders in terms of the data you need. This article by Chial (2008) will help you in this regard.
If you are using two different recorders, a very simple tip, taken from Mortensen & Hazel (2012), will save a lot of time later. When you have all the equipment turned on and recording, simply clap your hands once loudly. This sound will be much easier to locate in all your recordings as your synchronisation point than any others.
About recording equipment
Technology changes fast, so it is difficult for us to keep this space updated with the latest recording equipment available. Depending on where you are going to be recording and the detail you need to pick up, you will need anything from a mobile phone with recording capabilities to a professional video camera.
RESOURCES FOR RECORDING
Websites maintained by experts in the study of interaction with updated information about audio and video recording equipment:
- Talk Bank recommendations about digital audio recorders
- Talk Bank recommendations about digital video recorders
- Article by Michael, R. Chial (2008) on Talk Bank about simple videography
- Article by Janus Mortensen and Spence Hazel (2012) about ‘the data cycle’