Oral History: Conducting the Interview

Setting Up

Prepare the interview setting mindfully. Make sure that both you and your narrator feel comfortable. Set up the recording equipment and conduct a quick test to make sure everything is working well, and you will obtain a high-quality recording. Do what you can to minimize unnecessary noise and distractions. If you will take a video, check what will be captured in the shot. Avoid capturing things that may be inappropriate or distracting.

DON'T FORGET TO PRESS "RECORD" BEFORE YOU START YOUR INTERVIEW!!!

Beginning the Interview

Start by giving the interview some context. Introduce the narrator and provide some preliminary information about who the person is. You can also allow the narrator to provide some background information about themself. It can also be good to use this initial segment of the interview to provide some basic information about the oral history project you are conducting, as this can also be useful context for people who listen to the interview in the future.

Have a Plan but Be Flexible! Use Follow-up Questions to Maximize Insight!

Oral history interviews are usually less structured than other types of interviews. Although you must have a plan, your approach should not be rigid. Try to make the interview conversational so that your narrator feels comfortable and free to express their thoughts. Additionally, interviewers should be alert and ready to pick up on themes that come up as the interview develops and ask effective follow-up questions. Listen carefully for tips of what your narrator may find significant or meaningful about certain topics. Look for opportunities to enrich the narrative by requesting details, examples, stories, etc.

Although you want narrators to be expansive and give you rich answers, make sure to maintain control of the interview so it does not go awry. Steer the interview in the direction you want it to go. Make sure you touch on all the topics you want to discuss.

Obtain Contextual Information for Images or Other Documents You Collect

If you collect images during the interview, try to obtain good descriptions and contextual information for them. For example, if the narrator provides you with a photograph, try to obtain information such as the names of people in the photo, when the photo was taken, the event depicted in the image, etc. It may be much harder to obtain this contextual information afterwards. Scan the photo, give it a meaningful file name that will allow you to identify it later, and save the descriptive information.

Obtain Release Forms and Permissions From Narrator

Make sure you obtain the documentation you need from the narrator to be able to archive and disseminate the interview in the future. Take time to explain to the narrator exactly what they are agreeing to, and fully answer any questions they may have. This is essential to establishing trust. Remember that granting any permissions for use of the interview is completely up to the narrator. The narrator's decision to grant permissions must be well-informed and completely voluntary.

After You Have Concluded the Interview

Be sure to thank the narrator for their time and willingness to participate. Let the narrator know that you will be available for follow-up questions they may have about the interview. Again, make sure you have obtained all necessary release forms and permissions.

Things to Avoid During the Interview

Avoid inserting yourself into the narrative. Even though it is good to make the interview conversational, remember that you are collecting the narrator's story, not your own. Avoid inserting your opinion in the interview, and do not enter into an argument with the narrator. Also, avoid talking over the narrator or interrupting them. Avoid making noise while the narrator is speaking.

One thing to be careful about is verbalizing small acknowledgement expressions ("Uh-huh", "Right", "Mhmm", etc.) while your narrator is talking. While this lets the narrator know you are listening, it interferes with the recording. A better option is to use non-verbal cues, such as nodding your head, to let the narrator know you are listening.

DON'T FORGET TO STOP AND SAVE THE RECORDING!!!