Interview with Scientific Secretary of the Tenth Technical Session of Oral History in Iran

Initiative and in-depth study, first criteria of assessing oral history articles

Sarah Rashadi Zadeh
Translated by: Natalie Haghverdian

2015-10-27

Scientific Secretary of Tenth Technical Session on Oral History said: out intention is provision of scientific articles in order to study oral history of the Islamic Revolution; hence initiative and in-depth study are the first criteria of assessing articles. Upon receipt of every article we review them through a cycle and at least three jurors have to approve it.

Mousa Haghani (PhD), Head of Iran Contemporary History Study Center and Secretary of Tenth Technical Session on Oral History of Iran in his interview with the reporter of Oral History site said: since we have extended the deadline to submit summaries we are still in process of receiving them. However, the scientific board is set up and upon receipt of articles; they are reviewed by the board.

He added: scientific board constitutes of members of Iran Oral History Association and Iran Contemporary History Study Center and other including Ali Tatri, Alireza Kamari, Morteza Rasouli Pour and other members from Iran Oral History Association.

Regarding criteria of article selection Haghani said: our intention is for articles to be scientific to study oral history of the Islamic Revolution; hence initiatives and in-depth studies are first criteria of selection. Mainstreaming of oral history of Islamic Revolution and study of dominant approaches towards oral resources and comparative reviews of published resources, critics on resources and systematic studies in this field are priorities in this seminar which shall result in completion of studies, identification of shortcomings and accuracy of claims. For instance, multiple individuals might have witnessed one incident which results in different accounts and their review results in identification of the most accurate account and eventually a comprehensive narrative is provided.

It is worth mentioning that in articles published in this seminar with regards to oral history shall be reviewed and interviews and other historical resources which do not include oral history are not considered. Haghani added: the process of selection is that upon receipt of articles they are submitted into a cycle of evaluation and at least three jurors have to approve it. Upon approval and relevant modifications, if necessary, each article is rated.

He said: Up to now, some articles and most of summaries are evaluated.

Haghani reminded: 37 years after victory of the Islamic Revolution and interests in studying this field and also resources and accurate information which exist, we expect that Tenth Session of Oral History to be productive. Also, we have taken measures to increase the quality of the session and we believe that due to interests expressed to the topic, many seminars have to be set up. Also, in case of positive feedback we might extend the seminar for two days.

Tenth Technical Session on Oral History of Iran “Oral History of the Islamic Revolution 1963-1978” will be held on January 2016 hosted by Iran Contemporary History Study Center.