Recording Oral History
A Guide for the Humanities and Social Sciences
By (author) Valerie Raleigh Yow
Publication date:
11 December 2014Length of book:
446 pagesPublisher
Rowman & Littlefield PublishersDimensions:
235x161mm6x9"
ISBN-13: 9780759122666
Recording Oral History, now available in its third edition, provides a comprehensive guide to oral history for researchers and students in diverse fields including history, sociology, anthropology, education, psychology, social work, and ethnographic methods.
Writing in a clear, accessible style, Valerie Yowbuilds on the foundations laid in prior editions of her widely used and highly regarded text to tackle not just the practicalities of interviewing but also the varied ethical, legal, and philosophical questions that can arise. The text—now twelve chapters—allows for dedicated discussion of both legalities and ethics. Other new material include recent research on how brain functions affect memory, more comprehensive demonstration of how to analyze an interview, and details on making the most of technology, both old and new. Each chapter concludes with updated and annotated Recommended Readings and tailored appendixes address new developments, such as institutional review boards and the Oral History Association’s new Principles and Best Practices.
Writing in a clear, accessible style, Valerie Yowbuilds on the foundations laid in prior editions of her widely used and highly regarded text to tackle not just the practicalities of interviewing but also the varied ethical, legal, and philosophical questions that can arise. The text—now twelve chapters—allows for dedicated discussion of both legalities and ethics. Other new material include recent research on how brain functions affect memory, more comprehensive demonstration of how to analyze an interview, and details on making the most of technology, both old and new. Each chapter concludes with updated and annotated Recommended Readings and tailored appendixes address new developments, such as institutional review boards and the Oral History Association’s new Principles and Best Practices.
Since the appearance of the first edition in 1994, Recording Oral History has been a benchmark resource for practitioners, researchers, students, and repositories holding recorded oral interviews. Appearing now in its third edition—the second edition was in 2006—this is the premier practical guide for conducting, using, and making available to others oral history interviews. Yow arranges her guide in 11 topical chapters, leading readers through the stages of an oral history project from design and development through implementation and analysis to preservation and presentation of the completed interviews. The author supports each chapter with a focused annotated bibliography of pertinent additional sources for the topics covered. Exceptionally useful are individual chapters that focus on three familiar reasons for launching oral history projects: community studies, biographies, and family research. Notwithstanding the value of this information, Yow’s ultimate achievements are the chapters that provide clear, concise examinations of the complex legal and ethical issues associated with oral history. This third edition belongs in every academic library, any library that supports humanities and social science research, and public libraries that serve constituents pursuing online degrees. Summing Up: Essential. All public and academic levels/libraries.