Oral History Interview & Importance Part 14

Sample Query

Hamid Qazvini
Translated by Natalie Haghverdian

2017-7-25


Features and characteristics of a good query were discussed in the previous note. In this note, to offer further clarification and detailed discussion, samples of various types of queries and questions are provided. In this note, good queries are compared versus bad ones for the audience to be able to have a comparative study. There are occasions where multiple questions are to be asked to reach the intended response or answer.

 

Improper Queries

  • Which mourning ceremonies did you attend in Muharram?
  • Did you participate in the army club programs?
  • Where you ever scared of anything in war?
  • Did you walk to work?
  • Did you travel then?
  • Where your parents against your decision to join the fronts?
  • Did your family experience any problems during your service in the war?
  • Did your martyr son help you with chores at home?
  • Had you met your spouse?
  • How many casualties did the enemy endure?
  • Why were you injured?
  • Was this a successful operation?
  • When did you join the forces?
  • What is your opinion of Mr. …?
  • Were you happy with Mr. …?
  • Is it true that Mr. … didn’t have many followers?
  • Did they whip you during torture?
  • How long did you resist under torture?
  • Did your father beat you?
  • Where you successful in your studies?

 

Proper Query

  • Which of the programs and activities in Muharram do you remember? How would the neighborhood contribute in these programs?
  • Were the programs in army club mandatory?
  • What were the programs? What incentives were in place to entice participation?
  • How was the interest in these programs?
  • How would you travel to work?
  • How was your travelling schedule? Was it feasible?
  • When would fear and anxiety dominate the armed forces?
  • How would you control it?
  • How did your family react to your service in the fronts?
  • What challenges were your family exposed to when you were serving in the military and how did they manage it?
  • How would your martyr son contribute at home?
  • When did you first meet your spouse?
  • How much did the enemy suffer in this operation? Describe it.
  • Tell us about your injury?
  • What were the goals of the operation and were these goals realized?
  • When and how were you deployed?
  • Tell us about Mr. … .
  • What was the general opinion about him?
  • How many followers did he have then compared to other leaders?
  • What torture means were employed?
  • What methods would the prisoners employ to resist torture? How successful were you in resisting?
  • How would you act under torture to give burnt or general information?
  • How would your father punish you?
  • How was your education? Were the times difficult or fun?

 

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

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 9 - Presentation is vital

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 10 - Interview Room

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 11 - Pre-interview Justifications

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 12 - How to Start an Interview

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 13 - Proper Query



 
Number of Visits: 4589


Comments

 
Full Name:
Email:
Comment:
 
Book Review

Kak-e Khak

The book “Kak-e Khak” is the narration of Mohammad Reza Ahmadi (Haj Habib), a commander in Kurdistan fronts. It has been published by Sarv-e Sorkh Publications in 500 copies in spring of 1400 (2022) and in 574 pages. Fatemeh Ghanbari has edited the book and the interview was conducted with the cooperation of Hossein Zahmatkesh.

Is oral history the words of people who have not been seen?

Some are of the view that oral history is useful because it is the words of people who have not been seen. It is meant by people who have not been seen, those who have not had any title or position. If we look at oral history from this point of view, it will be objected why the oral memories of famous people such as revolutionary leaders or war commanders are compiled.

Daily Notes of a Mother

Memories of Ashraf-al Sadat Sistani
They bring Javad's body in front of the house. His mother comes forward and says to lay him down and recite Ziarat Warith. His uncle recites Ziarat and then tells take him to the mosque which is in the middle of the street and pray the funeral prayer (Ṣalāt al-Janāzah) so that those who do not know what the funeral prayer is to learn it.

A Critique on Oral history of War Commanders

“Answering Historical Questions and Ambiguities Instead of Individual-Organizational Identification”
“Oral history of Commanders” is reviewed with the assumption that in the field of war historiography, applying this method is narrated in an advancing “new” way, with the aim of war historiography, emphasizing role of commanders in creation of its situations and details.