International Conference on History, Literature and Management (ICHLM'2012) Oct.
6-7, 2012 Dubai (UAE)
The Methodology of Oral History
Dr. V. RANJAN
Abstract—The research methodology adopted for writing
scientific history like, internal criticism, external criticism,
elimination of value of judgment and generalization, can be adopted
in oral history. In regional or local history, the families play a
predominate role. Thus, the writing of family history is an absolute
necessity in the reconstruction of regional or local history. Oral
tradition and memory of individuals supply considerable data for
such writings. Oral history must be preserved in proper archives of
oral history. They can be documented with details like content, name,
occupation, period and significance. Unfortunately, the Indian
institutions, both governmental and non-governmental have not
realized the significance of the oral history. Thus, oral history is
valuable for present and future generations as an emerging discipline
with considerable unity and practically useful.
Keywords—Research methodology, oral history,
I. INTRODUCTION
R ESEARCH methodology of oral history is more complex
than the subsequent interpretations and narrations given
by the historians. An interview with the oral historic must be
more factual and analytical. They must have or direct
experience of an event or situation. In fact their interviews can
be used to highlight the histories of war, business, agriculture,
journalism, ethno migration, labour, women, sports, music,
philanthrophy, human rights movements, science, literature,
dance and foreign relations.
As discussed by Ritchie [1994 p.19] like other areas of
social science the Research methodology of oral history has to
be systematic, comprehensive and narrative. Oral historians
believe that their experience of history is more complex than
the subsequent interpretations and narrations given by the
historians. Rarely one can get historical evidences through
interviews related to a historical event. But, sometimes such
an event has even the potential to transform our ideas about
any branch of history.
According to Ballard [1990 p.32] an interview with the oral
historic must be more factual and analytical. They must have
or direct experience of an event or situation. In fact their
interviews can be used to highlight the histories of war,
business, agriculture, journalism, ethno migration, labour,
women, sports, music, philanthrophy, human rights
movements, science, literature, dance and foreign relations.
The past valuable information can be recollected through oral
Dr. V. RANJAN is working as Associate Professor, Department of History
& Research Centre, Scott Christian College (Autonomous), Nagercoil – 629
003, Kanyakumari District Tamil Nadu, India. E-mail:
ranjan_scott2005@rediffmail.com; Mobile: +91-09442535695.
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history interviews.
Barnes [1963 p.34] pointed out that the individual
recollection and memory are the important aspects of oral
history. Hence the interviewer requires technical skill and
experience. He should have through knowledge of what he
wants to ascertain and extract from the interviewee. The
questions are to be focused on the interrelated areas, which
would be able to highlight the problems with more insight.
For that the Oral historian should be professionally well-
equipped and much experienced. If he has no knowledge of
what he wants to know or record, he may not be able to get
anything substantial or useful from the interviewer. His
primary knowledge on any aspect of the historical event is an
essential factor.
Burchkhardt [1958 p.39] said that as oral history is based
only on memory. Therefore the interviewer should keep a
good memory power of the event or custom. The date, or
details of the event may not be correct and that has to be
checked or examined with authentic written sources. Any field
note or diary of the interviewee or his autobiography can also
be used to supplement his narration or experience. In such
cases the interviewer should possess good information of the
activities, contribution and participation of the interviewers.
For example, there is no meaning in collecting information
from a social activist on areas such as, music and literature,
unless he is specialized in those areas.
Carlyle [1928 p.42] highlighted that it is not possible to
conduct interviews with all persons keeping good memory or
knowledge of an event or situation. Here, a random selection
is made of persons, like participant, eye witness, promoter and
ideologue. In the absence of such persons, the memory of the
community, which keeps a tradition, heritage or custom, can
be ascertained. The tomb-stones will never highlight the life
experience of the dead underneath. But, the descendants of
those persons or persons of their genealogy may be able to
share some valuable memories and transmitted to them by
their ancestors. As a result, debates are going on over the
relationships between memory and history, and between
individual and his collective memory.
Gooch [1961 p.34] revealed that the collective memory of a
community or a tribal group or marginalized section, can be
recorded by an oral historian, to highlight their customs,
manners, rituals and common experience. Here, the specific
group of men or women or tribals or migrants can share their
common experience. If any exaggeration or under estimation
or over estimation takes place, there is every possibility of
correction from the groups itself. The approach of a collective
interview or community interview to ascertain community
 International Conference on History, Literature and Management (ICHLM'2012) Oct. 6-7, 2012 Dubai (UAE)
memory or collective memory is a suitable methodology for
tracing the oral history of a community or a tribal group
related to their experiences in a particular social, economic
and political situation.
Smith [1964 p.41] asserted that a community oral history
typically refers to one that is defined by a group of interviews
with people who live in a geographical area, like a village,
sub-urban mofussil or any other region. Community here
refers to a shared social identity of particular caste, profession
and occupation. The experience of a particular group in a
particular place is shared to the project of a community
through oral history. The tribal history can be pursued in this
methodological frame work. Such interviews can give us new
understanding of the local culture, beliefs, habits, individual
stories and anecdotes and it may also lead us to hills, homes,
streams, churches, temples, farms, streets and houses. An
interviewee can be asked to identify "three of his most
memorable experiences" related to his life, activity and
locality. Such recollections are very valuable for any aspect of
oral history. Interview can also be conducted on a single event
or a particular theme. In such cases, an interview can flash and
reflect even an insight into a specific problem. It will help to
understand the multifaceted dimensions and under currents of
an event or situation.
Tikekar [1964 p.26] found out that the waiting of an oral
historian is quite often criticized on account of the loss of
objectivity and by the large scale reflection of subjectivity.
Even scientific history is related to class history. The research
methodology adopted for writing scientific history like,
internal criticism, external criticism, elimination of value of
judgment and generalization, can be adopted in oral history.
Oral history has also the class character and ideological
commitment. Its elimination is a difficult process. This is
mainly caused due to the growth of history as a social science.
As a social science it is not only a factual narration, but also a
scientific explanation of facts. For instance, when an interview
for Oral history is conducted to trace the impact of land
reforms, it can supplement two arguments.
Rocuse [1946 p.64] observed that in regional or local
history, the families play a predominate role. Thus, the writing
of family history is an absolute necessity in the reconstruction
of regional or local history. Unfortunately such a new trend
has not come up in our academic activities. Oral tradition and
memory of individuals supply considerable data for such
writings. The interviewees in this direction can highlight
issues connected with migration, agriculture, industry, culture
and family system. The settlement pattern, interdependence,
social relationship and marriage relations can be traced in a
family history. Here, information can be gathered on the basis
of factual narration and recollection. The women interviewers
would be able to supply more elaborate details of family
customs, utilization of family resources, local quarrels and
conflicts. For such interviews, women scholars may be
engaged as it will establish an equality of gender in a rural
society. Several family histories, when joined together provide
the history of clusters of communities. They articulate well
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understandings of how change happens. The common people
learn how local events are linked to national and international
developments. This serves as an opportunity for opening up
dialogue with the public about the nature of historical enquiry.
Gabraith [1964 p.34] observed that sometimes, the
interviews may be characterized by ambiguity, uncertainty and
contradiction. Occasionally they may have definite meaning,
form and purpose. These aspects mainly depend on the way in
which the interview was conducted. The right persons, the
right question and the right answer make oral history as a
successful one. Alessandro Pirelli once remarked: “To speak
is to preserve the teller from oblivion”. Each teller makes
himself long living through his memory expressed. Otherwise
everything is forgotten.
Gottschalk [1963 p.45] told that oral history reveals the
more subjective aspects of historical experience. An
individual with long experience in life is an important source
material or valuable document itself in the areas of his life
experience. Its preservation is possible only through oral
history. Such experiences in the form of oral history must be
preserved in proper archives of oral history. They can be
documented with details like content, name, occupation,
period and significance. Unfortunately, the Indian institutions,
both governmental and non-governmental have not realized
the significance of the oral history Archives or such projects
to record the history of subaltern groups or marginalized
sections. Oral history helps the people in the streets also
contribute to historiography of a country.
Hook [1950 p.32] is learning the view that, like many other
disciplines, oral history has its own research methodology to
highlight, analyze and narrate a historical situation. It
interrelates the historical studies to human memory of a
collective group, individual and community. The narrative
accounts based on oral history project the life and story of the
common man, his frustrations and aspiration as part of
historical knowledge. Thus, oral history is valuable for present
and future generations as an emerging discipline with
considerable unity and practically useful.
II. CONCLUSION
The oral history has its own research methodology to
highlight, analyze and narrate a historical situation. It
interrelates the historical studies to human memory of a
collective group, individual and community. The narrative
accounts based on oral history project the life and story of the
common man, his frustrations and aspiration as part of
historical knowledge.
REFERENCES
[1] Ritchie, Donald A (1994) Recording Oral history, New York.
[2] Ballard, M., (1970) (ed). New Movements in the Study and teaching of
history, London.
[3] Barnes, H.E., (1963) A History of Historical Writing, New York.
[4] Burchkhardt, J., (1958) Judgments in History and Historians, London.
[5] Carlyle, T., (1928) On Heroes, Hero Worship and the Heroic History,
New York.
 International Conference on History, Literature and Management (ICHLM'2012) Oct. 6-7, 2012 Dubai (UAE)

[6] Gooch, G.P., (1961) History and Historians of the 19th Century,
London.
[7] Smith, Page, (1964) The Historians and History, New York.
[8] Tikekar. S.R., (1964) On Historiography, Bombay.
[9] Rocuse A.L., (1946) The Use of History, London.
[10] Gabraith U.H., (1964) An Introduction to the Study of History, London.
[11] Gottschalk. L., (1963) Generalisation in the Writing of History, Chicago.
[12] Hook, Sidney, (1950) The Hero in History, New York.

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