Welcome to Interviewer's Notebook: The Oral History Game!
In this game, you will be playing the role of a new oral historian, preparing to embark on one of your first interviews.
Let's make sure we're on the same page. [What is oral history, anyway?]<hook|
<center><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Victor_Grigas_Interviewing_pt_user_aerolitz_S%C3%A3o_Paulo_March_2012-21.jpg" width="300" height="150" alt="Two foxes"></center>
(Click: ?hook) [Oral history is a method for documenting the past through interviews with <abbr title="in oral history parlance, we call these witnesses narrators">first-hand witnesses.</abbr> to past events. Oral history is both one of the oldest historical methodologies, used by the early historians working to write about events, and it is also one of the most modern approaches to studying the past, involving digital technologies, new ethical considerations, and exploring topics often maligned or disregarded by more traditional methods. Oral history is used by scholars, community activists, and many others as a method for gathering and preserving information.
Ok, I'm ready. Let's get this <abbr title="serious academic game">party</abbr> [[started!->Introduction]]]
<img src="https://www.umass.edu/history/sites/default/files/assets/oral_history_lab_logo.jpg" width="450" height="275" alt="Two foxes">
Note: This game is a beta version. It is a work in progress! As you work through this virtual experience, you will encounter realistic scenarios that you may experience in oral history interviewing.
In this first virtual scenario, you've determined a basic subject area and you've attended reunions, posted classified ads, and used the <abbr title="technique of collecting potential narrators by identifying one narrator who recommends others">"snowball method"</abbr> to connect with people willing to be interviewed for your oral history project.
<img src="http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/history/outreach/besh/images-1/oral-history" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes">
[[Beginning your first interview->Start the game]]Congratulations! You have chosen to record an oral history interview.
You begin preparing for your oral history interview by . . .
* pondering your goals for the interview
* completing primary and secondary source research
* beginning to brainstorm interview themes and possible questions
* completing a pre-interview (perhaps 15-20 minutes) with the narrator
Will you be the next Studs Terkel?
[[Yes]]
[[Who is Studs Terkel?!]]Before the interview project begins, you’ve chosen to have your narrator sign which document?
* [[A legal release and notice of informed consent]]
Or
* [[Nothing, it's better to avoid "legalese" at this stage->Nothing]]
<img src="http://sites.uci.edu/vaohp/files/2011/12/DSCN0146.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes">Congratulations! You've completed an oral history interview. You hop in your car, take a few notes on the interview, and drive off into the sunset. You plan to share copies of the interview with your narrator, will send them a nice thank you note, and follow up by keeping them informed about the project as it progresses. But this stage of the interview process has come to a close. In some ways, now the real work begins!
<center><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/People_at_work_in_Wartime-_Everyday_Life_in_Wartime_Britain%2C_1940_D1039.jpg" width="500" height="400" alt="Two foxes"></center>
Oral history is an important method for historical research, but it can also be fun! As an interviewer, you hear interesting stories, meet people you might not otherwise, and add to historical knowledge for future generations.
Once you've recorded one interview, you may want to record more! Check out some further resources to better understand oral history . . .
<a href="http://www.oralhistory.org/" target="_blank">*Oral History Association*</a>
<a href="http://www.oralhistory.org/about/principles-and-practices/" target="_blank">*Principles and Best Practices*</a>
<a href="http://ohda.matrix.msu.edu/" target="_blank">*Oral History in the Digital Age*</a>
<a href="https://www.umass.edu/history/oral-history-lab" target="_blank">*UMass Oral History Lab*</a>
Follow The UMass Oral History Lab on Twitter
@oralhistorylab
Created by The UMass Oral History Lab
<a href="https://www.umass.edu/history/member/emily-redman" target="_blank">*Emily T.H. Redman*</a>
and
<a href="https://www.umass.edu/history/member/samuel-redman" target="_blank">*Samuel J. Redman*</a>
<center><img src="https://www.umass.edu/history/sites/default/files/assets/oral_history_lab_logo.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes"></center>
<a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-nd/4.0/88x31.png" /></a><br />This work is licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.
Citations: Twine was used to build this game.
Good choice! This is a standard approach in oral history.
In an introductory letter, offer an explanation of your project, and ask that participants sign and return a letter signifying their willingness to participate in an oral history project.
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEjVtb5XsAEy-x5.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes">
A legal release clearly explains that the contents of any given interview are being gifted to the recorder for the purposes outlined in the release.
A good legal document for oral history interviews addess the issue of copyright transfer. Since both the narrator and the interviewer own the words that they speak on a recording, the legal right to utilize those materials must be transferred to a researcher, archive, library, or another repository.
Many good legal releases for oral history also state that the recordings may be freely used by the participant or narrators. In other words the gift of the material in the interview does not preclude them from making use of the interview themselves.
Pro-tip: Many oral historians even freely give a copy of the interview as a gift to the narrator!
[[Ok got it!->Preliminary Research]]Uh-oh! Now that you've recorded an oral history interview without a legal release or copyright transfer, you are unable to use the interview in future publication.
<img src="http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/simpsons/images/4/41/Oral_History_Project.png/revision/latest?cb=20130718091717" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes">
[[Try again!->Before You Begin]]
Great! Pop on your <abbr title="Terkel's wardrobe as described by Rick Kogan of the Chicago Tribune as 'almost a costume'—remained the same for decades: a red-and-white checked shirt, red-knit tie, and red socks (the red to express his far-left sympathies); gray trousers, and a well-chewed cigar">red checkered shirt</abbr> and let's roll!
<img src="http://pulpabasica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/camisa-cuadros-rojos.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes">
Just like the fashionable Studs, you offer to:
[--travel to your narrator
--interview them at their office
--travel to another interview location]<hook1| (Click: ?hook1)
[
Trick question! Any of these options is fine. Just be sure any location you choose is suitable for recording, with low levels of outside noise and distraction, good lighting, and offers a comfortable environment for everyone involved.
[[Keep going->Before You Begin]]]Studs Terkel (1912-2008) was a bousterous oral historian, radio broadcaster, actor, and writer who recorded thousands of interviews on a wide variety of subjects throughout his lifetime. His books Division Street (1967), Hard Times (1970), Working (1974), and The Good War (1984) are some of the best known works in oral history.
<center><img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2008/10/31/us/31terkel2_650.JPG" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes"></center>
[[Ok got it! I'm ready to be the next Studs Terkel!->Yes]]How familiar are you with the major subjects to be discussed in the oral history interview? In other words, how much preliminary research have you accomplished to date?
[[Virtually nothing]] . . . I’ve done nothing to prepare
[[Enough to fake it]]
[[A little]] . . . I’ve done some primary and secondary source research to prepare
[[A great deal]] . . . I'm literally a history major, dude!
<img src="https://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/legs.inline%20vertical.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes">Time to hit the library!
Oral histories can sometimes benefit from the naiveté of a low-information interviewer. More often, however, oral histories are richer and more dynamic if the interviewer knows something in advance about the topics being discussed.
Keep that open mind (and sometimes be willing to ask information-gathering questions to record the narrator's answer even if you know the answer yourself!) but spend time preparing for the interview by studying up! Things to try:
* Hit the library!
* Use the web (but be sure to use reputable sources)
* Talk to an expert! Often you can find scholars at your institution that will be happy to help you. Remember, though, everyone's time is valuable, so do remember to engage scholars politely and graciously accept if they are unwilling or unable to spend the time talking with you
* Read related oral histories
* Watch documentaries (Also a good opportunity to get in some light cardio)
* Be creative! Information is everywhere!
[[Ok fine. I promise to prepare. Let's move on.->Start Interview]]Don't fake it! Time to hit the library!
Oral histories can sometimes benefit from the naiveté of a low-information interviewer. More often, however, oral histories are richer and more dynamic if the interviewer knows something in advance about the topics being discussed.
Keep that open mind (and sometimes be willing to ask information-gathering questions to record the narrator's answer even if you know the answer yourself!) but spend time preparing for the interview by studying up!Things to try:
* Hit the library!
* Use the web (but be sure to use reputable sources)
* Talk to an expert! Often you can find scholars at your institution that will be happy to help you. Remember, though, everyone's time is valuable, so do remember to engage scholars politely and graciously accept if they are unwilling or unable to spend the time talking with you
* Read related oral histories
* Watch documentaries (Also a good opportunity to get in some light cardio)
* Be creative! Information is everywhere!
[[Ok fine. I promise to prepare. Let's move on.->Start Interview]]That's a good start! You don't need to be the world's leading expert on your subject to conduct a great oral history interview, but you should be familiar with some basic information. It's best to be as comfortable as possible with the topic, so it's time to think about the best and most efficient way to brush up on your knowledge. Things to try:
* Hit the library!
* Use the web (but be sure to use reputable sources)
* Talk to an expert! Often you can find scholars at your institution that will be happy to help you. Remember, though, everyone's time is valuable, so do remember to engage scholars politely and graciously accept if they are unwilling or unable to spend the time talking with you
* Read related oral histories
* Watch documentaries (Also a good opportunity to get in some light cardio)
* Be creative! Information is everywhere!
[[You are nearly ready to begin->Start Interview]]Excellent! This will help you a great deal in becoming a better oral historian.
Your knowledge of the subject area explored in the interview is invaluable, but be careful not to come off as pedontic or uninterested in what the narrator might have to add to your knowledge. Remember, this interview might well be used by people without a background knowledge in the subject; basic information should be included in the interview without assuming the listener/reader will already know the material.
[[You are ready to begin->Start Interview]]Do you begin your oral history interview with -
[[Questions to establish some basic information]]
or
[[Super invasive personal questions]]
or
[[Interpretive dance]]This is an excellent way to start an interview.
By asking the narrator to state and spell their name, naming the location of the interview, and perhaps asking the narrator to share their date of birth, you've added some basic information to the historical record. This also helps you keep records and organize files, which is particularly important if you conduct multiple interviews with the same person, and helps other users of the completed oral history recognize the content.
<img src="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/image/image_file/8077971985_867243d4b3_o.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes">
[[Look down at your notebook, what do you see?->Notebook]]Wow, it got weird in here. This is probably not the best choice.
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Barack_Obama_in_interview_with_Zach_Galifianakis.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes">
[[Let's try again->Start Interview]]Ok, unusual choice. This might not be the right line of work for you after all.
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Womens_interpretive_dance_class_%282232415707%29.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes">
Do you want to [[try your hand at oral history one last time?->Start Interview]] Or maybe <a href="http://www.monster.com/" target="_blank">*change careers*</a>?You look down at your notebook, how many questions have you written down to ask during your oral history interview?
* [[3 questions]]
* [[About 15-20 questions]]
* Probably like, [[100 questions]], I don't know man . . .
<img src="http://bossfight.co/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/boss-fight-free-stock-high-resolution-images-photos-photography-notebook-coffee.jpeg" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes">While it is good not to over prepare, having only a few questions prepared might not carry you through a full interview.
Focusing in on major topical themes is a good start, but continue brainstorming some additional thoughtful questions.
[[Try again->Notebook]]So far so good! There is a lot of flexibility here, but it seems like you've done your homework and written up enough potential questions to carry you through the full interview. A good rule of thumb: do you feel you have enough questions to help guide a conversation of the length you're expecting?
Pro-tip: Don't worry about asking every single question if the conversation doesn't go there naturally or if you need a break
[[Just like your oral history project is a work-in-progress...->Work in Progress]]How long do you think an oral history interview session should last?
The interview lasts how long in duration -
[[10 minutes->Too short]]
[[1-3 hours->Just right]]
[[3-5 hours->Way too long...]]
[[Aim for something like The Neverending Story (1984) - in other words have it take months and years->Way too long...]]Your interview is too short. Ten to twenty minutes is about the right length for a pre-interview, but for an actual oral history interview, you will want to take more time to get into more depth.
[[Try again->How Long?]][[Great, you've asked most of your questions and you are ending the interview at the appropriate time->Winding Down]]Your interview is taking too long!
<img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6040/6258904896_ec4a6f155a_b.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes">
Your narrator is starting to drift off and your questions are becoming less sharp as you lose focus.
Some oral histories are comprised of many hours of interviewing, recorded over many days, weeks, or even years. Most often, however, these oral histories are recorded in much shorter interview sessions.
[[Try again->How Long?]]As the interview winds down you ask -
[[“Does it smell weird in here?”]]
Or
[[“Is there anything I didn’t ask you that I should have?”->Follow Up]]
That's not the best choice. While it might be fairly obvious to not end the interview by offending the narrator, this tongue-in-cheek option is intended to make you think about natural and effective ways to wrap up a lengthy conversation that will be preserved in the historical record. Abrupt breaks should be avoided, whether or not you've actively commented on building odors in the interview space!
[[Try ending the interview again->Winding Down]]Nice work! The narrator addressed nearly all of your questions and seemed pleased with the interview.
After the interview, you choose to -
[[Write a thank you card and follow up->End of Game]]
[[Actively ignore your narrator->Don't Do That]]
You've done something you shouldn't do. Don't do that. Try ending the interview again.
Remember; as an oral history interviewer, you are often a guest in the home or office of the person being interviewed. It is important to act accordingly.
[[Ok->Winding Down]]Geesh, really? 1,000 interview questions?! Do you know the story of Goldilocks?
You've probably over done it. It is great that you've done your homework and have so many ideas where the direction might turn, but you also need to let your narrator run with the ball. Let them determine the most important questions to address in their story, focus on giving them starting points, rather than questions to cover every single possibility.
[[Try again->Notebook]]A difficult memory has arisen for your narrator. They are telling you an important story eliciting some painful emotions. They are clearly expressing a desire to include the story in the interview, but as they tell it to you, they start to break down crying.
Do you . . .
[[Press the narrator to continue talking->Respect Boundaries]]
[[Turn off the recording device immediately->Pausing the Interview Tape]]
[[Ask the narrator if they would like to continue or take a break->Go With the Flow]]By asking the narrator what they would like to do in this scenario, you've made a good choice. Try to "go with the flow" in the course of your oral history interview. If the narrator expresses any desire to take a break or end the interview, do so as quickly as possible. Your narrator's comfort is more important than the outcome of the interview.
Pro-tip: During your pre-interview ask if there are any subjects or topics which should be avoided during the recorded interview session.
You begin to wonder . . .
[[How long should the interview session take?->How Long?]]This is not the best choice. Good ethics in oral history involves respecting the boundaries laid out by the narrator. The interview should always prioritize the needs and wants of the narrator. If they want to take a break (on or off tape) or stop the interview altogether, even if this results in a "failed" oral history recording, respect these wishes.
Pro-tip: During your pre-interview ask if there are any subjects or topics which should be avoided during the recorded interview session.
[[Review other options for dealing with a difficult emotional response from the narrator->You come to a crossroads]]While you might think any important content should be preserved for the record, remember the importance of respecting your narrator. Their health, safety, and comfort is paramount and in every case trumps the historical record. You don't need to turn off the tape at any provocation, but certainly feel comfortable asking your narrator if they would like to take a break off tape.
[[Review other options for dealing with a difficult emotional response from the narrator->You come to a crossroads]]
or
[[Got it, the narrator is ready to continue->How Long?]]
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/PAUSE-button_-_Macro_photography_of_a_remote_control.jpg/1280px-PAUSE-button_-_Macro_photography_of_a_remote_control.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes">
<center><img src="http://www.vonbodisco.eu//download/teaching/media/Baustelle.jpg" width="300" height="150" alt="Two foxes"></center>
The completed version of this game will include a number of different interview scenarios for the player to explore. Issues that will be covered might include:
* choosing the right recording technology for each interview
* considerations regarding compensation for your narrator
* what makes a good interview question?
* archiving the final oral history for future use
* techniques for developing content
* ethical considerations
* tips on what to bring to the interview
* and more!
[Show me an example.]<hook|
(Click: ?hook) [Your oral history interview is progressing well. The narrator has established a few basics in telling you about their childhood. Now, they are moving on to some other topics introduced by your questions. The interview winds and turns. You come to the point in the interview where you plan to ask some difficult questions.
[[You come to a crossroads]]]