Did they really say that? An agential realist approach to using computer assisted transcription software in qualitative data analysis

Transcription is an integral part of much qualitative data analysis, yet rarely has it received close attention in debates over the use (or non-use) computer assisted analysis software (CAQDAS). This article draws upon a mixed-methods study that involved transcribing conversational interviews with carers, third sector practitioners and policy-makers, to explore how transcription (CATS) can affect its ways unanticipated at outset by researchers. From agential realist perspective, outlines three steps towards making principled choices CAQDAS analysis. These require navigating extremes associated technological determinism; we re-think our understandings software-data-researcher relationship; move away from asking well given ‘perform’ exploring what (and cannot) do.