How do I ask the questions?
(source: dohistory.org/on_your_own/toolkit/oralHistory.html#QUESTIONS)
- In general, have a list of topics in mind, not specific questions, word-for-word, and not a specific sequence. You may, however, want to have a start-up list of questions to get your interviewee and yourself comfortable before you change to your topic list.
- Do plan the topic and form of your first substantial question after the "settling down" phase. Ask a question that will prompt a long answer and "get the subject going."
- Ask easy questions first, such as brief biographical queries. Ask very personal or emotionally demanding questions after a rapport has developed. End as you began, not with bombshells, but gently with lighter questions.
- Ask questions one at a time.
- Allow silence to work for you. Wait.
- Be a good listener, using body language such as looking at the interviewee, nodding, and smiling to encourage and give the message, "I am interested."
- If necessary, use verbal encouragement such as "This is wonderful information!" or "How interesting!" Be careful, however, not to pepper the interview with verbal encouragement such as "uh-huh," said at the same time that the interviewee is speaking.
- Ask for specific examples if the interviewee makes a general statement and you need to know more. Or you might say, "I don't understand. Could you explain that in more detail?"
- Ask for definitions and explanations of words that the interviewee uses and that have critical meaning for the interview. For example, ask a horseman what he means by the shaft of the buggy. How was it used? What was its purpose?
- Rephrase and re-ask an important question several times, if you must, to get the full amount of information the interviewee knows.
- Unless you want one-word answers, phrase your questions so that they can't be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." Don’t ask, "Were you a farmer on Denny Hill during the 1930s?" Ask instead, "What was it like farming up on Denny Hill during the 1930s?" Ask "essay" questions that prompt long answers whenever you can. Find out not only what the person did, but also what she thought and felt about what she did.
- Ask follow-up questions and then ask some more.
- Be flexible. Watch for and pick up on promising topics introduced by the interviewee, even if the topics are not on your interview guide sheet.
Writing Interview Questions
(source: www.history.com/images/media/interactives/oralhistguidelines.pdf)
Memory Questions:
After you have decided on a focus topic and done some background reading, you should carefully consider and write down the questions that you plan to use in your interview, using your own worksheet or the one provided with this manual. Your interview should begin with several memory questions. First, memory questions should help relax your subject and get them in a mood to reminisce. Second, these questions will help you gather information about your subject’s personal experiences.
Note that your topic and questions will be shaped by the subject(s) you choose to interview. You will get the best answers if you ask your interview subject to talk about his or her own experiences, so encourage your interviewee to provide personal stories, sad and funny memories that you will not find in the standard school books.
- Write and ask good questions
- Get good stories that are told in an interesting way
- Examine and understand the different beliefs, interests, hopes and fears using follow-up questions
- Evaluate your evidence to make conclusions
Writing Additional Questions
In order to learn as much as possible from the interview experience you should write several questions that will encourage your subject to expand and explain their feelings and ideas. The second stage of questions should encourage your subject to dig deeper into the stories to explain why things happened and how they relate to other events.
Below are some basic questions to help you get started. Use your own worksheet, or the one provided, to write your own complete questions.
Explanation Questions
- What caused an event?
- Why did it happen...?
- What happened next...?
- Can you describe the scene in one word...?
- Can you compare two events...?
- Explain the reason for...?
- What conclusion can you draw...?
- What is your point of view about...?
- Can you describe the scene...?
- Can you explain a photograph...?
Judgment Questions
The last group of questions should offer your subject a chance to talk about the “big picture” by telling about what was good or bad, important or less important. These questions should be asked last because they allow the interview subject a chance to sum up and make conclusions. Remember that this is your subject’s opportunity to give his or her own opinion—you may or may not agree with the conclusions.
Judgment Questions
- What was the historical memory that you now find to be most significant?
- What was your biggest accomplishment?
- What mistakes did people make during this period or event in history?
- What should people today remember about this time/event?
MEMORY + EXPLANATION + JUDGMENT = SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW
Even with your best efforts some people may need some extra questions and prompting to start a conversation
Don’t be afraid to ask for details or explanations.
Back up Questions:
- Why was this important?
- How did the story begin or end?
- What else do you want to tell me about this?
- What important question did I forget to ask you?