Oral History Interview & Importance Part 9
Presentation is vital
Hamid Qazvini
Translated by Natalie Haghverdian
2017-6-12
Presentation is vital in the interview and is another step of the way which affects the attitude of the narrator towards the scholar. Presentation in the first session is of higher importance since it builds the cornerstone for further dialogue; starting a good session with proper management entices the narrator to continue dialogue. This turning point has pre-requisites as listed below.
- Accurate Location Address
The address for the interview location should be properly understood by both parties for punctuality reasons and avoid any unnecessary travel distances and consequently delays. One of the dilemmas arises when one party is unfamiliar with the routes to the destination which results in delay and loss of interview effective time and exhaustion.
- Punctuality
It is the duty of the interviewer to adjust travel time with due consideration of the traffic to arrive at the interview location minutes prior to start. It is of vital importance since the narrator shall not be left waiting for the interviewer. The interview held in the premises of the narrator or otherwise, the interviewer shall be present minutes before to respect the dignity of the narrator and make proper arrangements in due time. Also, the interviewer shall attend the premises with respect and consideration of ethics and pay close attention to the guidance of the narrator. The interviewer shall decide the location in consultation with the narrator to avoid any complications and dilemma on the side of the narrator and his/her family.
- Departure and Arrival Coordination
One of the problems usually observed in interviews is lack of coordination for departure and arrival in the interview team of the narrator. For instance, in many occasions the interview team experiences fleet of security issues while accessing various organizations where multiple individuals have to enter carrying equipment. This hurdles the interview process and violates the rights of both parties. Hence, it is crucial to manage required coordination prior to departure.
- Entourage
The interviewer shall avoid unnecessary entourage and maintain the interview team in its minimum. Also, it is essential for the team to enter all at once and avoid individual frequent entrance to avoid delays in the process and inconvenience.
- Appearance
The interviewer’s apparent presentation shall be desirable and proper. Improper clothing and messy appearance tarnishes the interviewer’s image and adversely affects the interview process. Obviously, titivation and hygiene has positive effect in the attitude of the narrator. The important point is that the interviewer shall consider the values and beliefs of the narrator and relevant sensitivities in this aspect and avoid any undesirable or unacceptable or controversial appearance.
Also, the interviewer shall notify the narrator in case of any issues with his/her appearance to take proper photos and pictures during the interview.
Oral History Interview & Importance Part 1 - Oral History, Path to Cultural Dialogue
Oral History Interview & Importance Part 2 - Characteristics of an Interviewer
Oral History Interview & Importance Part 3 - Selecting a Subject
Oral History Interview & Importance Part 4 - Narrator Identification & Selection
Oral History Interview & Importance Part 5 - Goal Setting
Oral History Interview & Importance Part 6 - Importance of Pre-interview Data Collection
Oral History Interview & Importance Part 7 - To Schedule & Coordinate an Interview
Oral History Interview & Importance Part 8 - Required Equipment & Accessories
Number of Visits: 8579
The latest
Most visited
- Oral history News for Mordad 1405 (July 23rd to August 22nd 2026)
- The Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War - 45
- 374th Night of Remembrance - 2
- War Health
- 100 Questions/ 45
- Memoirs of Behzad Rastegari
- Theory Six: The Inevitability of Perspective
- The Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War - 46
Documentary Pathology of the US Embassy Documents
The Necessity of Scientific Rereading and Content Analysis of DocumentsMore than four decades have passed since the publication of the first collections of documents from the US Embassy in Tehran. However, despite the relatively easy access to this treasure trove of documents, systematic research exploitation of it has not been adequate. We still do not have a “comprehensive picture” of the content of these 11,000 documents.
100 Questions / 42
What is the importance of the narrator and interviewers shared understanding of the past in oral history?We asked several researchers and activists in the field of oral history to express their views on oral history questions. The names of each participant are listed at the beginning of their answers, and the text of all the answers will be published on this portal by the end of the week.
Validation: Challenges and Necessities
Where does truth stand in oral history? How can the correctness of a narrative be recognized? Does fact-checking matter? If there is exaggeration in the reporting of some accounts, how can it be detected? Is it possible to record an event accurately through the recording of a narrative? Readers and users of oral history works are often faced with these questions, and sometimes encounter doubts about some oral history works.From Revolutionary Circles to the Military Arm of the Islamic Government
In those days, it became clear that certain institutions had to be established very quickly—institutions suited to the temperament, expectations, and lingering aspirations of the younger generation; young people who had been politically active before the Revolution and, in some cases, had been directly entangled in arrests, imprisonment, ...
