The iEARN Kindred Project

Oral History: Techniques and Tips

Creating a “Natural” Interview Setting

If visiting a relative or other person specifically for interview, take along home baked goodies, an artifact/object from the past or a picture that may be used during the pre-interview session as a lead to interview questions.

Use props whenever possible: Documents, letters and photo albums to stimulate memories. Add some of them in your final reports/ stories as well.

Oral History Questioning Techniques

Ask evocative questions rather than those requiring only a yes or no answer.

There will be some information you will not get, some sensitive issue cannot be approached even when trust is developed. You may be the wrong age or sex. That’s okay though, just expect it.

Take a low key approach. This helps ease both you and the informant into the interview role.

Show interest through body language but don’t crowd your informant. Interject remarks, take part in the conversation but don’t take over. Learn to be a good listener.

Know what questions you want to ask, but don’t be afraid to let your informant go off on a tangent.

Getting back on track:
“Before you told me about this or that we were talking about so and so. Can you tell me how so and so was affected when the model T became available?”

If you need to write down questions, put them on note cards (one or two to each card) or jot your notes in bullet form.

Use props whenever possible.

Be sensitive to the needs of the informant. Older people may tire easily. Cut off interview at first sign of fatigue/tiredness.

Consider Ethical Issues:

	Be honest about your intents.
	Respect privacy and confidences.
	Respect sensitive issues.
	Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
	Safeguard the relationship with your informant.
	Remember, secret recordings violate your informant’s right to know.
	Let your informant see anything that will be published. Ask for permission to use tapes/photos to be displayed publicly.