Pre-Interview

As with all traditional oral histories, you will be expected to do a pre-interview with the interviewee. There are details on how to do a pre-interview in the oral history training documentation.

You should let them know that the interview will take about 90 minutes and that it will be recorded. If they are choosing the location, remind them that you will need a quiet place with no interruptions.

At its heart, the pre-interview is your opportunity to explain all facets of the project, the informed consent document, and the deed of gift.  

Before your pre-interview, you should send a pdf digital copy of the informed consent document, so that the interviewee has the opportunity to read it at length and arrive to the pre-interview with any questions.

[FIRSTNAME LASTNAME (Interviewee)], I have a few demographic questions that will be valuable for future researchers as well as assessment and evaluation of our project. You can answer all, some, or none of these questions. We will include your answers in the database, but the information you provide will be kept confidential and only available upon request by researchers. 

1. 1. 1. What is your age? 

      2. To which gender identity do you most identify?

      3. How would you describe your race and/or ethnicity?

      4. What is your email address?

      5. Would you please pronounce your name?