What was one issue in Davis's study of Smith and Rainey's work?

• A. The recordings were not easily accessible.
• B. Improvised lyrics by Smith and Rainey were hard to transcribe.
• C. The researchers disagreed on methodology.
• D. The subject matter was too short.

Answer: (B)

Transcription reliability matters when the material being analyzed isn’t fixed word-for-word. In this study, the lyrics were improvised by Smith and Rainey, so there wasn’t a single, stable script to capture. That makes it hard to record exact wording, as performers may vary phrases, pronunciations, timing, and intonation from one performance to another. Because transcription depends on capturing precise language, improvisation introduces variability that can obscure patterns and make comparisons across samples unreliable. To study this kind material rigorously, researchers would need clear transcription procedures, possibly multiple coders, and a shift in focus from exact words to features like themes, rhythms, or melodic structure. It isn’t about access to recordings, disagreements on methods, or the length of the material; the core challenge is accurately capturing and comparing improvised content.