|
Research Methods in the Field |
Oral History |
|
Research Methods homepage
|
Yi-Wen Huang Qualitative Research Methods: ORAL HISTORY Bogdan, R. C., & Biklen, S. K. (1998). Qualitative research for education: An introduction to theory and methods (3rd ed.). Needham Heights, MA: A Viacom Company. Bogdan and Biklen (1998) pointed out oral history in the form of life-history case study: In this form of case study, the researcher conducts extensive interviews with one person for the purpose of collecting a first person narrative (Helling, 1988). When this type of interviewing is done by historians it is referred to as oralhistory (Taylor & Bogdan, 1984, esp ch.4). Historians who do this kind of work often interview famous people (presidents, social movement leaders, and generals) to get the details of history from those who participated it. When they interview less famous people (domestics or farmers, for instance), they are more interested in how history appears from the point of view of the “common person” (pp. 56-57). They also emphasized psychological, sociological, and feminist approaches to life history: Sociological or psychological first person life histories collected through case study interviewing are usually directed at using the person as a vehicle to understand basic aspects human behavior or existing institutions rather than history. Sociological life histories often try to construct subjects’ careers by emphasizing the role of organizations, crucial events, and significant others in shaping subjects’ evolving definitions of self and their perspectives on life. Feminist approaches to life history tend to emphasize the lived experience of narrator and now that relates to the intersection of gender, race, and social class (p. 57). Agar, M. H. (1986). Speaking of ethnography: Qualitative research methods (Vol. 2). USA: Sage Publications, Inc. There are two ethnographic language case studies—The life history of an addict and Independent trucking-applied to oral history in qualitative research in this book (pp. 57-70). As Agar (1986) has noted, “ In the interview Jack is telling the story of how he learned to be a burglar. . . . In the full analysis, Hobbs and I apply the coherence questions at several different levels for this particular level-2, tape-recorded segment” (p. 59). Glesne, C. (1998). Becoming qualitative researchers: An Introduction(2nd ed.). USA: Longman. As Glesne has noted in chapter 4 :Interviewing: An interaction, she reported oral history: Jan Myrdal (1965), in Report from a Chinese Villege, reconstructs – through oral history interviews many people – the transition in rural China between the passing of Chiang Kai-Shek’s regime and the ascendancy of Mao Zedong. Oral history interviews focus on historical events, skills, ways of life, or cultural patterns that may be changing ( Rubin and Rubin 1995) (pp.68-69). Lofland, J., & Lofland, L. H. (1995). Analyzing social settings (3rd ed.). USA: Wadsworth Publishing Company. As Lofland has noted, “ it has the advantage of allowing people more time to reflect and to recall experiences; also something that one person mentions can spur memories and opinions in others” (P. 21). Kamil, M. L., Mosenthal, P. B., Pearson, P. D., & Barr, R. (Eds.). (2002). Methods of literacy research. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Oral history turns toward living memory. Kamil (2002) claimed that “ oral historians ask questions of those who are willing to talk about the past. For instance, oral historians interested in literacy look for those who can remember their early schooling or teaching” (p. 39). Kamil (2002) also reported oral history: Oral history takes much more time than one would think. The next technological breakthrough, already underway, will be the transition of speech directly into print; until this is perfected. However, painstaking transcription by hand from the audiotape is the only method available. For detailed information, including legal caveats, we suggest joining the Oral History Association. There are also tips and bibliographies on oral history that have been prepared by reading researchers (p. 42). In the words of Kamil (2002) , “ there are also tips and bibliographies on oral history that have been prepared by reading researchers (e.g., King & Stahl, 1991; Stahl, Hynd, & Henk, 1986; Stahl, King, Dillon, & Walker, 1994” (p. 42). Kridel, C. (Ed.). (1998). Writing educational Biography: Explorations in qualitative research. New York and London: Garland Publishing, Inc. Wieder (1998) claimed the relationship between oral history and biography: “Biography is history made personal.” Oral history is a major aspect of biographical work and offers a personal perspective-people’s spoken collections and reflections-to biographical studies. When biography is described as the “ human heart of history,” I see the process of oral history as permitting a biographer to shape complex issues or concerns of an individual or group of individuals. I view oral history as the heart of biographical research; it’s personal dimension humanizes the research while also raising and magnifying issues not always a concern in other research methodologies. Moreover, its personal dimension humanizes the researcher. . . . An oral historian is always aware of the issues of memory and accuracy as he or she conducts an interview (p113). See also Oral History Association http://omega.dickinson.edu/organizations/oha/ Oral History Centers and Collections http://omega.dickinson.edu/organizations/oha/org_cc. html Oral History Pamphlet Series 1. "Oral History and the Law" by John A. Neuenschwander 2002. Third edition, revised and enlarged. Paper. 94pages. Indexed. $15.00 2. "Oral History Projects in Your Classroom" by Linda P. Wood, with introduction by Marjorie L. McLellan, 2001. Paper, 3-hole punched notebook format. 87 pages. Bibliography. $15, with binder $20. 3. "Using Oral History in Community History Projects" by Laurie Mercier & Madeline Buckendorf 1992. Paper. 34 pages. Bibliography. $8.00 4. "Oral History Evaluation Guidelines", 2nd edition, 1991. $5.00 per copy. Free to new members. Oral History Bibliography http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/ROHO/bib.html http://www.radcliffe.edu/schles/libcolls/bksper/bibs/or al-rev.htm
Oral History Research Office http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/oral/offsite.ht m
Oral History Links and Contacts http://www.bl.uk/collections/sound-archive/ohlinks.html
Oral History resources on the web http://www.edheritage.org/linkpages/orhis.htm
The Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov/
Compiled by: Kathleen Klompien, Nicole Munday and Mary Verbout |