The oral history interview generally helps the couple to put their current issues into a larger perspective. By interviewing people who have memories of the past or who retain recollections given to them. The problem lays arguments of whether oral history is reliable. Mazlish, professor emeritus in the department of history at massachusetts institute of technology, in his book world history. By interviewing people who have memories of the past or who retain recollections given to them by members of older generations we have a potentially very productive way of discovering and preserving the history. May 05, 2010 oral history strengths and weaknesses i really didnt give the letter exchange with the gulf war veteran too much more thought until my partner and i took our recent summer vacation to the battlefields of wilsons creek, missouri, and pea ridge, arkansas.
Nov 24, 2016 oral historians have responded to these criticisms both by seeking to demonstrate how oral history can be subjected to the same checks and balances as other forms of historical analysis but also, and more importantly, by arguing that some of the supposed weaknesses or peculiarities of oral history are not limitations at all. However, the use of oral sources in historical reconstruction is replete with difficulties of which the problem of chronology is outstanding. I often hear couples say, you know as we talk about this im realising that we have had a pretty good relationship. I sometimes hear clinicians saying, im not sure that the oral history interview is a useful way to begin couples therapy. Their evaluation was a source of acute puzzlement to thoughtful christians even in the earliest decades of the second century and probably before. However, as a specific endeavor of the recognized historical profession, oral history finds its place in a more recent approach to historical methodology, specifically the new. Oral history preserves for future generations a sound portrait of who we are in the present and what we remember about the past. Life histories are generated from qualitative research, interviewing individuals about their lives not one approach, but several biographical research life histories family histories oral testimonies structured, semistructured, unstructured.
Many articles have been written about the uses of oral history in classes at the k12 level as a way to make history come to life for students. History is critical in the selection, interpretation and analysis of available data. To understand the technology associated with oral history. Oral history interviews with participants in historical events values.
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information gathered from people with personal knowledge of and experience with past events. Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes. If their disclosure was anticipated could have been manipulated, perhaps to conceal scandalous happenings or illegal maneuverings, or to maintain the image of the government concerned. Finally, history is an outcome of diligent research. To understand the proper way to process, and provide access to oral history sources in a library or archival institution. Collecting oral history of often silenced or misrepresented voices in any community brings about ethical considerations, sensi tivity, and understanding of the historical and cultural background of the narrator. Communityuniversity collaboration in oral history, digital storytelling, and engaged scholarship, originates in michael frischs use of. The use of oral history and narrative research in broadening. How oral history opens up the past science history institute. Both the oh contents and interchange are embedded in social, historical, and cul oral histories tural contexts shopes, 2011, which reveal more complex although rare in cha, oh has been commonly used in phenomenon than conventional qualitative methodologies in fields like history and communication.
The forms of government, reasons for studying history. Essential question how does preparing for, conducting, and processing oral histories contribute to the interviewers understanding of history, specifically the world war ii. Oral tradition and memory of individuals supply considerable data for such writings. Herodotus, if you recall, set down many of his stories from accounts he heard an his travels. Historians and other scholars rely on primary sources to conduct research. American association for state and local history in cooperation with the oral history association, 1984. Information about technical equipment was included in the manual.
Perhaps to conceal scandal, illegal maneuvers, or to maintain an image of the government concerned only what the government allows the public to know oral history interviews with participants in historical events values. The combination of autobiography, biography and oral history is enrichment to the study of history through placing an emphasis on the role that personalities and individuals have in historical events. Oral history manual department of history new mexico state. The oral history project is worth 15%, or 15 points, of your course grade. What are the strengths and limitations of using biography, autobiography and oral history as historical sources. Advantages and challenges of employing oral history interviewing as part of a research project this chapter focuses.
Oral history must be preserved in proper archives of oral history. What are the advantages and disadvantages of oral history. An oral history interview is not about the interviewer. Advantages and disadvantages of oral traditions as a source of information. This is vital in the notion that there is much possibility that the evidence provided can be authenticated. Only what the government allows the public to know. Oral history panel on the development and promotion of the intel 8080 microprocessor participants. Advantages and disadvantages of oral traditions as a. Ecumenical history also known as universal history, world history and global history. By this we mean that we always have the information in writing to use it again. Used extensively in anthropology, sociology, history.
Russell, director santa barbara, california 931069010 805 8938215 oral history methodology, the art of interviewing oral history is as old as antiquity. Oral history association and has been an influential force in the development of oral history in the united states. It is these features of history that have made it look science ajetunmobi, 2005. I argue that there are limits to the application of oral history, particularly when working amid highly politicized research settings. Oral history provides a fuller, more accurate picture of the past by augmenting the information provided by public records, statistical data, photographs, maps, letters, diaries, and other historical materials.
Inevitably, future generations will viewand judgetodays generation through the lens of their own experiences in their own time. No record in oral communication, messages are not preserved and hence they are not found in the record book. Oral history helps round out the story of the past. Advantages and disadvantages of oral traditions as a source. Oral history can be seen as the earliest form of historical inquiry. Oral history is the study of historical information recording of interview with people having personal knowledge of past events.
A guide to preserving oral history with videotape, audiotape. Be aware of the advantages and limitations of oral history as a source in social science research. Primary sources can come in many forms, from an official document or diary, to a firsthand account from a. A wellwritten document can be a legal leverage in conflict cases as it records the communication that has taken place on the subject. Problems for practitioners of oral history allen press. Ethics and methodology amid highly politicized research settings is intended to promote discussion among oral historians about the distinct theoretical, ethical and methodological challenges that emerge when. It grants a firstperson perspective or a collective look at the conditions of a people during a specific period and relates details that create emotional responses among listeners. Aug 02, 2011 moreover, all the documents have a long pre history before they reached written form. Critics such as hobsbawm 1997 are quick to highlight the limitations of oral histories and suggest that oral histories rely heavily on memory, which can be.
Should one use a tape recorder and transcribe verbatim records of the interviews. Oral history is important because it enables the collection of evidence through first person accounts. Oral history was established in 1948 as a modern technique for historical documentation when columbia university historian allan nevins began recording the memoirs of persons significant in american life. From fact finding to history shaping nicholas mariner oral history can be seen as the earliest form of historical inquiry. The collection provides educators, students, and researchers with a comprehensive examination of the conceptual approaches, methodological limitations, and pedagogical possibilities of oral history within formal and informal educational settings from. A soldier recalls world war ii 1991, she put to the test the concept of oral history as a reliable research tool. Oral history provides a fuller, more accurate picture of the past by augmenting the information provided by pub lic records, statistical data, photographs, maps. A scholar will often find that she is requested to prove that one clan settled an area before another, and that. Ideologies, structures, identities, mentions about three concepts of history. The term oral communication simply refers to the type of communication that is done orally.
This paper is going to examine these concepts by comparing. Oral history panel on the development and promotion of the. The challenges of oral history in the 21st century. Some historians rely on oral histories to form the core of their research. The workshop seemed like an ideal venue in which to explore some of the doi.
Before beginning an oral history project, a researcher should understand the advantages and disadvantages of oral history research, as well as what it is and what it isnt. Thus, the writing of family history is an absolute necessity in the reconstruction of regional or local history. Soldier recalls world war ii 1991, she put to the test the concept of oral history as a reliable research tool. Oral history was utilized to capture and preserve the interview content from a small sample of agricultural communication and extension professionals and faculty while narrative research, interpretative theory, and constructivism were utilized to further understand and interpret their oral history data generated from the interviews. Historical narratives are traditionally built from tangible objectssome scraps of paper tucked away, stacks of receipts held together with paper.
Although the major beneficiaries of oral histories usually have been social historians, all historical methodological fields have the potential to learn from this rich primary source. History, whether written or oral, can only be considered accurate if their is supporting evidence. The theme of this special issue, sharing authority. The focus should be on the interviewee and they should do most of the talking, with occasional questions from you to guide them in directions you think are the most productive. Interpreting and using oral history oral history is a valuable source for historians. Research limitationsimplications participants were all recruited from one. In regional or local history, the families play a predominate role.
However, as a specific endeavor of the recognized historical profession, oral history finds its place in a. Stepbystep guide to oral history roy rosenzweig center for. Oral assessment in its many forms has a long history. Oral assessment includes any assessment of student learning that is conducted, wholly or in part, by word of mouth. Disadvantages of oral traditions in history free essays. The oral history interview and its usefulness relationship. A typical and useful example of the value of oral history in the k12 classroom, using material from the oral history of the american south website, is described in a recent article in social education. These aspects of history imply that what is presented as history is a product of.
Many ancient scholars believed africa had no history prior to colonialism because there was no documented evidence. Jon hunner, daniel villa, pauline staski, jon wall and the students at panther. The advantage of oral tradition is and was that it maintained tradition when there was no other means to do so, i do not think that there are advantages or disadvantages of oral tradition. Reflections on the use of oral history t ctions on the use of oral. Oral tradition usually has existed because of a lack of an. To read the fulltext of this research, you can request a copy directly from the author.
In this paper she describes that remarkable project, where she. Advantages and disadvantages of oral history free essays. By interviewing people who have memories of the past or who retain recollections given to them by members of older generations we have a potentially very productive way of discovering and preserving the history of parish congregations and communities. Newton, who was a distinguished british historian in the early 20th century, believed that there was no african history because most of the african society was. If their disclosure was anticipated, potential for manipulation. Oral history, often employed in recording the history of events, places, and people, can also be used to document the material history of a historic site. The methodology is used by researchers exploring traditional ecological knowledge tek, ethnobotanists interested in local plant taxonomies, and by those who investigate. Overall oral history is based off the memory of the individuals who know it. Oral historians contend that the socalled weaknesses of oral evidence are those encountered in. Sep 05, 2014 oral history remains unchanged with changing technological advances and hence it is a suitable source of historical data. For many years, authors have written myths, fables and parables. Students will be exposed to an oral history in written andor audio form. Steve bisset federico faggin hal feeney ed gelbach ted hoff.
However, as these histories expand to include the sheer breadth of human experiences, certain limitations begin to arise that challenge the oral history model and. As history involves the past, written history has a greater chance of. In any situation, people do not prefer oral communication for their limitations. As an illustration, in traditional history of africa, accurate chronology was hardly taken seriously as emphasis was on specific events. The challenges and limitations of developing a reconciliatory pedagogy using oral history with south african preservice and inservice history teachers reville jess nussey a thesis submitted to the wits school of education, faculty of humanities, university of the witwatersrand in fulfilment of the. Strengths and weaknesses of oral history premium assignment.
North american oral history association, as quoted by thomson, 1998, p. It dominated assessment up until at least the 18th century at oxford and cambridge stray, 2001 and continues to be a principal mode of assessment in many european. Can automatic speech recognition replace manual transcriptio. Advantages and disadvantages of linguistics as a source of information.
Indeed, the puzzles began as soon as any christian had access to more than one account or source, written or oral. Essential question how does preparing for, conducting, and processing oral histories contribute to the interviewers understanding of history. Its their duty to remember it and share it to those who wish to hear it. The weaknesses and strengths of oral history military. Ecological oral history is a type of oral history that seeks to document knowledge about the natural world that is held within peoples memories and cultural beliefs. Pdf oral histories as critical qualitative inquiry in. Oral history is celebrated by its practitioners for its humanizing potential, bringing the narratives of people and communities typically absent in the archives into the conversation. The story of the past is continually revised in the light of new interpretations. As indicated above, in general, a life history interview should proceed chronologically. What oral history is and what it isnt the real record of history is found in the lives of ordinary people who lived it. What oral communication is, the advantages of oral communication and the disadvantages of oral communication. However we all remember that little game we did back in s. Learning historical thinking with oral history interviews.
I believe oral history depends positively in our society because oral teaches something. Oral history and the documentation of historic sites. Architectural or landscape features, alterations over time, and uses of space can all be captured using oral history as a methodology. At the very least, we must be aware of the limitations of oral history in order not.
The oral history association encourages individuals and institutions involved with the creation and preservation of oral histories to uphold certain principles, professional and technical standards, and obligations. Oral history is important because it gives voice to those whose perspectives are often excluded in traditional history books in favor of the powerful. What are the advantages of a written source in history. Mar 30, 2020 using oral tradition as a means of passing along stories and histories keeps the human element intact within the events that occurred. Introduction memory is still recognized as the raw material of. In this article, we are going to take a look at some 3 major things.
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