Perhaps an overlooked concept for gathering information in any investigation is taking an oral history. This is a good tool when dealing with older persons who you wish to recount facts or tales. However, oral histories are for everyone and pretty much every situation. This may counter what serious Oral Historians think-- pure information, minus folklore, rumor, and such. In paranormal research, oral histories can add a dimension to your investigation. In certain investigations, it may be a crucial step when interviewing groups to determine if share aspect is present or you are looking for a particular validation among witnesses.
Oral histories can be recorded with a tape recorder, video recorder, or both. It is highly suggested that you record your interview -- one, it's hard to write that fast; two- it provides a long term record; and third- it provides a record that can be shared with others. You have to consider Oral Histories to be an interview and must take similar steps to prepare. Have a list of set questions to ask, however, plan leeway for topics outside of your original questioning. Being flexible and able to think on your feet when the tangent turns is also crucial. You never know when that bit of information you're looking for will manifest itself.
Come prepared -- extra equipment and storage media, materials you plan to reference (history, photos, ect.), and additional personnel. Having that extra person might be helpful. There's safety in numbers but there's also -- two brains are better than one. The person accompanying you might think of a question that you haven't thought of. The interviewee might bond better with the other person than you. It's handy to have someone man the camera and manage footage.
Equipment choices are important. Sixty minute tapes are suggested -- I've used Maxwell 60's with the half speed record setting equalling 120 minutes of record time. Choose high quality tapes and consider an external mike to cut down on motor hum. It's okay if you have to use the fixed mike but be sure to place it between you and the interviewer and speak loud and clearly -- my favorite recorder doesn't have an external mike and by placing it on a soft cloth absorbs a bit of motor reverb.
Video equipment can be traditional tape media or newer disc media. Tripod is a must. Selectable tape speed is a good option as well and use high quality video tapes as well. I like to use high quality or super high quality MGM, Fuji or Maxwell. However, when buying a video tape consider the following:
"Coercivity, measured in Oesteds (Oe), denotes the magnetic strength
of a tape. A higher coercivity generally means better frequency response
or improved detail. Retentivity, measured in Gauss (G), is an indicator of
a tape's ability to retain magnetism after the video heads have been
removed from the tape. Since video and audio are laid down on the tape
by magnetic force, these attributes affect the longevity of a tape. You
want tape that captures the maximum image/sound over as many passes
as you need.
"Tape that will be recorded onto once and played back onto a digital
medium for editing, for example, may not need the retentivity of a tape
that will pass over a recording/playback head many times for editing.
"Video signal-to-noise (S/N) refers to the ratio of the black-and-white
signal of a tape to any residual noise;the "junk" that gets recorded along
with the desirable parts of an image. Color S/N is a measure of the ratio
of the color signal to residual noise.
"Video and color S/N ratios are expressed in decibels (dB). The higher
the number, the better the reproduction. These specifications should tell
you how well a particular tape's image reproduction compares to another
tape. Unfortunately, there is no one standard of gauging these
specifications. Most tape manufacturers have established their own
reference tapes, against which each company rates its own videotape."
(Videotape Buyer's Guide)
When starting any portion of a recording session state the who, what , when, where, why and perhaps a brief synopsis if you've started a brand new tape. This is much like doing an EVP session -- which takes a bit of its' practice from Oral History. This might be the point to get a visual affirmation of interviewee's release of this session. Remind them, it isn't a personal conversation, the information will most likely be shared with others. If at any point, the interviewee wants to go off record -- shut the equipment down and proceed -- just to remember to turn it back on when you're ready to go foward with your investigatory questions. Nothing more flustrating than realizing your equipment is still off and you've lost uncounted answers.
Start the interview with easy questions -- age, the date. Build questions up -- this allows the interviewee to relax and get used to the situation. Starting with the deep, delving questions will most likely shut your interviewee down and leave them ill-at-ease with your and your topic. Ask questions that will get you essay answers -- yes and no question won't get you anywhere beyond that question. After asking all your probing questions -- end with something light. Don't leave your interviewee feeling as if they've been hit by the Mack truck of questioning.
Be sure to listen as your taking an oral history. Give feed back cues -- oh, this is amazing, we didn't know that, oh tell me more. Pepper them throughout, vary them -- stale responses demonstrates your boredom. Don't be afraid of long silences -- the interviewee may be trying to formulate a response. If the interviewee is hesitant to answer a specific question, move on and try to come back to it. Don't hesitate to rephrase a question after you get an answer -- if you are trying to get a specific bit of information try again. Look for topics within the answer that might lead down a path you weren't aware of -- can you tell me more about...; you mentioned...; I haven't found ... in my research, will you tell me more?
Once you've finished, it's crucial that preservation steps be made before you review your oral history recordings-- dubbing extra copies. Storing in alternative media forms is an option -- but beware! Digital media formats change and with each change you will need to update your storage format. Digital media can be corrupted -- I think all modern internet users realize the dangers of data corruption. Clearly label each unit you duplicate of the original interview. You will also want to transcribe your interview. If you performed hours of interviews, plan for hours of transcribing. If you plan to do lots of oral histories, invest in a transcriber's review unit. Consider one with a foot pedal -- it's a great feature. Using a transcriber's unit is easier and less flustrating than the original recording device.
Now review your session. This is the point where you can take notes, plan another interview, or determine other courses of action including validation of what you've been told. Validating information may require more oral histories, trips to the library and archives among many possibilities. It's nice to have the first person experience of the interviewee but even better when you can corroberate through other sources.
In the case of paranormal research it may be hard to convince people to participate in a recorded session. It's up to the researcher to put them at ease and explain the scientific approach to situation and dispel the myths of paranormal research. By providing fact about you, your group and your process you can gain the good faith of skeptic. Sometimes you have to alter your approach with those who continue to doubt the research -- asking for their logical explanation of events and sticking with their point of view. Don't alienate anyone -- if they choose to think your research is farse, let it go and move on.
It's crucial to recognize all the tools at the hands of researchers. A professional approach to oral history can serve a researcher or group just as well as any piece of scientific equipment does. Observation and interaction is crucial in oral history as it is in active investigation. Oral history is a great tool for recording an event, history, folklore or the person themselves and should be used whenever its deemed viable.
http://dohistory.org/on_your_own/toolkit/oralHistory.htmlWHATIS
Judith Moyer 1993, 1999
http://www.videomaker.com/article/7288/ Videotapes Buyer's Guide
Karen Director October 1999
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As always I invite comment, criticism, insight and so forth
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