Skip to Main Content
Addlestone Library is open to the College of Charleston community and affiliates via card access. Visitors may access Addlestone Library Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, and must present a government issued ID and sign in upon entry.

Lowcountry Oral History Initiative (LOHI) Toolkit: Conducting Background Research and Developing Interview Questions

How-to guide for community and campus oral history projects brought to you by the Lowcountry Oral History Initiative at the College of Charleston Libraries.

Step_1_Page_3_banner

Conducting Background Research

Conducting background research can help you determine what is missing from or what has been misrepresented in the historical record, and in the process, narrow the focus of your project. Additionally, because historical events, people, and places do not exist in a vacuum, background research can provide valuable information to situate your oral histories in a broader historical context. You should use a combination of primary and secondary sources to guide your research journey. 

  • For more information on primary and secondary sources, see the Related Materials column on this page. You may find the Primary and Secondary Sources document helpful.
  • For more information on developing the historical context for your topic, you may find the Historical Context document helpful.

Developing Interview Questions

  • Always start an oral history introducing yourself, the date, and the location.
    • Example: "My name is XXXX and the date is M/D/YYYY. This interview is taking place in [City/State] at [specific location] / via [zoom/phone]."
  • Next, you will want the interviewee to state their name, and to provide brief biographical information.
    • Example: "Can you please state your name, where you were born, and [where you live now, your current occupation, etc.]."

Most oral history projects have eight to ten standard questions that you will ask each interviewee, and there is usually a chronological order/roadmap to the questions. The following is an overview of the order of the interview questions, also referred to as the interview protocol:

  • Your first two questions can center on the interviewee's coming of age: e.g. "What was it like growing up in X?" "What were your schooling experiences like?"
    • You may ask more questions regarding the interviewee's coming of age if you are taking a life history/biographical approach to the interview.
    • The biographical form can provide valuable information regarding the interviewee's coming of age.
  • The topical questions that you are seeking to answer should constitute the majority (six to seven) of your protocol.
    • The background research you conducted can help you to better contextualize your questions.
    • Make sure to ask open-ended/exploratory questions—those which generate a detailed response from the interviewee, not those in which "yes" or "no" will be the answer.
  • Your last question(s) can query the interviewee about why the topic carries contemporary significance/importance.

Beyond the standard questions, additional questions will arise throughout the interview. Here are supplementary question types that you will likely use:

  • Probing: If there is something that piques your interest, probe the interviewee for more information/details.
    • Example: Can you tell me more about X?
  • Clarifying: If there is something that you don't understand, ask the interviewee for clarification.
    • Example: Can you explain what you mean by X?
  • Process: These types of questions ask interviewees to walk you through a particular process, event, etc. 
    • Example(s): Can you describe what a typical workday was like? Can you describe how you planned for the protest?
  • Emotive: These questions gauge an interviewee's emotions regarding a particular issue, subject, etc. You can simply ask: How did X make you feel?

Thank the interviewee for the opportunity to conduct the oral history and ask if there is anything else they would like to share that was not covered in the interview.

Related Materials header