Course Description
Examination of concepts and research methods in oral history. Students will study techniques in collecting, interpreting, and writing oral history. Students interested in oral history, narrative research, ethnography, life history, and interviewing will find this course of interest.
Athena Title
Oral History Research
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in QUAL 8535E
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will be able to: 1) gain broad and scholarly knowledge about oral history as a research methodology in education and the social sciences. 2) obtain a knowledge base from which to conduct oral histories. 3) acquire knowledge that will enhance understanding of how individuals and groups remember the past. 4) acquire or develop research tools and skills that will assist students in writing a history paper based on an oral history and other primary sources.
Topical Outline
I. Oral History Traditions in the United States: From Past to Present II. Oral History and Memory (How do individuals remember the past?) III. Oral Histories within Communities IV. The Ethics of Oral History Research V. Concepts, Methods, and Challenges A. Differences between oral history and interview approaches in other fields B. Building rapport C. Oral history and archival evidence VI. Technical Aspects of Oral History A. IRB B. Preparing Questions C. Tape recording D. Video recording E. Transcribing F. Interpretation G. Blogging and Oral History H. Triangulation (fact checking)