1. Selecting interviewees and preparation work,
then initiating contact
The criteria for selecting subjects for oral history are that they have an interest in the project and are key figures in the interview topics (such as eyewitnesses to historical events). For a project that is under limited funds and time, priority should be given to interviewees who are representative and talkative.
The first impression created by the initial contact in oral history can significantly impact the interviewee’s willingness to cooperate, their attitudes, emotions, and even the manner of cooperation. There are generally three formal methods of contact: First is to have acquaintances introduce the interviewer to the interviewee after obtaining the interviewee's consent in advance. Second, ask interviewees who have already been interviewed to refer the interviews to others. Third, direct contact: only when the interviewer knows and is familiar with the interviewee. Among these three methods of contact, being referred by the interviewee is the most effective, followed by being referred by someone else. This is because a referral by the interviewee can introduce the purpose, significance, and process of oral history interviews, making it more convincing.
Regular Pr-interview Visits
Strategy:
Interact in a mode that lies on the boundary between public distance and personal distance.
Purpose:
Gain on-site understanding and assessment of the interviewee's personality traits and mental state.
Personality Assessment Model for Oral History Interviewees:
1. Occupation
2. Level of education and educational background
3. Self-esteem and self-confidence
4. Mental state
5. Physical Health
6. Social Inclinations
7. Intuitive modalities and types of experiences
8. Emotional types and emotional stability
9. Intelligence Level
10. Psychological Openness and compatibility in cooperation
11. Thinking and Communication Abilities
12. Memory methods and proficiency
13. Verbal expression ability, self-awareness, and self-operating types
-Enables the interviewee to understand the interviewer and gain trust and acceptance
-Communicate the legal rights of the interviewer and the ethical obligations of the interviewer, discuss the collaboration methods, work expectations, and requirements
-Gain a comprehensive understanding of the interviewer’s life experiences, and history of their career, record relevant details and pose questions.
Drafting interview guidelines, seeking
feedback and communicating promptly
with the interviewee
Special Questions:These are specifically tailored to the interviewee's life experience. They are formulated by synthesizing information obtained during pre-interview research, relevant literature, and the interviewee's personality assessment.
General Questions:These are question models designed for all interviewees (referring to Li Zhen's "200 Standard Questions for Oral History").
The guidelines should maintain a semi-official, semi-personal format. They should begin with greetings to the interviewee and provide a brief evaluation of the significance of their lifelong work, emphasizing the irreplaceable historical value of their personal account.
The guidelines should include statements that respect the interviewee and discuss the methodology and procedures for the interview.
The questioning approach should be based on the understanding and assessment of the interviewee gained from the pre-interview. It should not be copy model questions to prevent inadvertently hurting the interviewee's self-esteem, and enthusiasm, or even triggering emotional distress.
Formal Interview(Video, Audio Recording)
- The interviewee becomes the narrator, the central figure in oral history, while the interviewer should transform into a listener, prompter, and conversational partner, serving as a supporting role in the oral history process.
-In general, it is not advisable to interrupt the narrative unless we are certain that the narrator's thoughts and memories are becoming disorganized. In such cases, it is appropriate to provide gentle and discreet prompts to bring the focus back to the topic.
-A good oral history interview, regardless of its goals, always allows space for the interviewee to express their thoughts and feelings, rather than trying to fit their responses into pre-set questions and thought patterns.
-Interviewers should be mindful of their attitude and tone, and it’s extremely important to restrain, and avoid displaying attempts at dominance or an authoritative posture.
-Video recording equipment should be placed outside the interviewee's direct sight to prevent it from potentially affecting the interviewee's performance and causing a departure from their natural state.
-Includes information on interview time, location, frequency, duration, interviewer's name, assessment of the interviewee (physical, psychological, memory, verbal expression), and reflections on the interview process.
-There should be a summary of the conversation, comparing it with the interview guidelines, to reflect the comprehensive dynamics and changes in the oral history work.