Language and Society

Handout 2.3: Oral History Project

Sequence for Oral History Research

  1. Formulate a central question or issue.
  2. Conduct Interview.
  3. Store audio recording on flash drive.
  4. Analyze interviews.
  5. Organize and present results.

Reminder List…

  • Decide your research goals.
  • Contact potential interviewees, explain your project, and ask for help.
  • Test your equipment beforehand and get to know how it works under various conditions. Practice using your equipment before you go to the real interview.
  • Compile a list of topics or questions.
  • Practice interviewing.
  • Make a personalized checklist of things you must remember to do before, during, and after the interview.
  • Verify your appointment.
  • Interview and record in a quiet place. When setting up, listen for a moment. Make adjustments, such as stopping the pendulum on the tick-tock clock, putting out the dog that’s chewing noisily on the recorder cord, and closing the door on the noisy traffic.
  • Make sure the interviewee understands the purpose of the interview and how you intend to use it. This is not a private conversation.
  • Start each recording with a statement of who, what, when, and where you are interviewing.
  • Listen actively and intently.
  • Speak one at a time.
  • Allow silence. Give the interviewee time to think. Silence will work for you.
  • Follow up your current question thoroughly before moving to the next.
  • Start with less probing questions.
  • Ask more probing questions later in the interview.
  • Wrap up the interview with lighter talk. Do not drop the interviewee abruptly after an intense interview.
  • Limit interviews to about one hour in length, depending on the fatigue levels of you and your interviewee.
  • Have the interviewee sign the release form before you leave.
  • After the interview, make field notes about the interview.
  • Copy borrowed photos immediately and return the originals. Ha
  • Analyze the interview. Verify facts. Compare your results with your research design. Did you get what you need? What further questions do the interview results suggest? What improvements in your method do the interview results suggest?
  • Go back for another interview if necessary.

Create an Interview Protocol

  • Compile a list of appropriate questions for interview.
  • Turn in Interview Protocol with Final Paper.

Conduct Interview

  • Audio record interview
  • Take additional notes during and after interview.
  • Take or collect photos from your interviewee.

Write-up Oral History Paper

  • 4-5 page paper describing interview (Double Space, 1 inch Margins).
  • Submit rough draft for review by peers.
  • Create an abstract that summarizes your Oral History Paper.
  • Include direct quotes from the interview.
  • Use terms and concept from class to frame the concepts of your paper.

Presentation

  • Present and Read 1 page abstract.
  • Include pictures collected.

Timeline:

Interviews Complete (Ready for Upload): Thurs Feb 24

Paper Rough Draft: Monday Feb 28

Abstract Presentations:Wed March 2

Papers Due: Fri March 4