Design and Structure of Interview Questions in Oral History: Principles and Methods

Written by Mahya Hafezy
Translated by Kianoush Borzouei

2025-4-29

The Oral History website, aiming to shed light on the challenges and obstacles in producing oral history works and memoirs, has conducted interviews with several experts and practitioners in the field. These discussions are presented here in the form of short notes.

The interview, as the primary tool for compiling oral history works, is not a one-way discourse but rather a process based on bilateral dialogue. This fundamental difference marks the boundary between simple memory recording and the production of authentic oral history content. In oral history, the interviewer does not merely record narratives; instead, through active analysis, fact-checking, and questioning, they create a precise and documented account. The success of this process depends on the intelligent design of questions, the structure of interview sessions, and the interviewer's ability to foster an interactive atmosphere. This article examines the key principles of designing interview questions and the major challenges encountered in this field.

The Nature of Oral History Interviews: From Dialogue to Alignment

An oral history interview is, above all, a dialogue. The precondition for a genuine dialogue is the alignment of knowledge, experience, and perspective between the interviewer and the interviewee. If the interviewer possesses insufficient knowledge or expertise, the conversation is reduced to a teacher-student relationship, where the interviewee narrates freely without critical engagement or refinement.
For instance, interviewing a military commander without sufficient familiarity with operational histories or the geographical details of the war would result in a superficial and imprecise narrative. Therefore, the interviewer must present themselves as a knowledgeable consultant who, while respecting the interviewee’s experience, steers the narrative toward depth and clarity through targeted questions.

Principles of Designing Interview Questions

Designing questions in oral history requires adherence to certain principles:

1. 1. Focus on Specificity over Generalization
       

General questions yield general answers. For example, asking, "What was your experience at the front?" may bring out vague responses like "It was tough but honorable." In contrast, specific questions such as "When did you first deploy to the front, and what motivated you?" or "How did your family react to your decision?" help reconstruct events and emotions more accurately.

1. 2. Address One Topic per Question
       

Combining several inquiries into a single question can confuse the interviewee and lead to incomplete answers. For instance, asking "When did you marry, whom did you choose, and why?" risks confusing the interviewee. It is preferable to present each topic separately and in a logical sequence.

1. 3. Simplicity and Clarity of Expression
       

Questions should be phrased clearly, concisely, and without ambiguity. Long introductions or personal comments may distract the interviewee. For example, instead of saying, "As you know, some believe the war began in September 1980, but you mentioned October 1980; please explain," it is better to ask directly: "You stated that the war began in October 1980. What is the basis for this date?"

1. 4. Sequence: From Simple to Complex
       

Initiating an interview with complex or sensitive questions may cause resistance or fatigue. It is advisable to start with simple, non-sensitive topics and gradually progress toward more profound and challenging issues.

1. 5. Respect for Personal Boundaries
       

Questions unrelated to the subject matter or those the interviewee is unwilling to answer should be avoided. The interviewer's duty is to uncover truth within the boundaries of professional ethics.

Practical Challenges

Implementing the principles of question design is often complicated by the dynamic and human-centered nature of the interview process. Challenges arise both from interviewee preparation (whether or not to send questions beforehand) and from managing the conversation in real-time (maintaining the right tone, handling unexpected questions, and preserving focus). Understanding and addressing these challenges is crucial to conducting a successful interview.

1. 1. Providing Questions in Advance: Pros and Cons
       

Sending questions beforehand offers the interviewee mental preparation but may lead to rehearsed or withheld answers. Conversely, posing questions spontaneously preserves authenticity and spontaneity but demands the interviewer’s strong conversational management skills. Choosing the appropriate approach depends on the interviewee’s personality and the research context.

1. 2. Managing Unanticipated Questions
       

During interviews, new questions often emerge, either connected to or deviating from the main topic. The interviewer must decide whether to pursue these tangents immediately or defer them to future sessions. This flexibility is key to maintaining focus and avoiding diversion.

1. 3. Adjusting Tone and Rhythm
       

The interview tone must balance respect, seriousness, and friendliness. An overly formal manner may turn the session into an interrogation, whereas excessive informality may undermine the gravity of the subject. Similarly, the pace of questioning should align with the interviewee’s capacity and emotional state.

Conclusion: The Art of Interviewing in Oral History

Oral history is an interdisciplinary attempt whose success relies on the fusion of precise methodology and communication skills. Designing questions is merely the initial step; ultimate effectiveness depends on the interviewer’s ability to transform the conversation into a dynamic process. Mastering this art demands historical knowledge, psychological insight, and the ability to build trust.
Just as a professional Western interviewer is trained to engage global leaders in dialogue, the oral history interviewer must, through adherence to scientific and ethical principles, become the narrator of a story that not only records the past but revives it.