Although there is no one correct way to conduct an oral history interview, the following tips will help to insure a more successful encounter.

• Guide and shape the interview but don't use your questionnaire/interview guide as a script. Be flexible.

• Good oral histories are generally monologues, not dialogues. Get the narrator to tell his/her story. Try not to do too much talking yourself.

• Ask questions that are open-ended, that require more than a "yes" or "no" answer. (e.g. how, why, what was it like, how did you feel, can you tell me more about…)

• Start with non-controversial questions. Leave more complicated or "delicate" questions until later, when you've developed more of a rapport with the narrator.

• Ask one question at a time.

• Don't be afraid of silences. Give your narrator time to think about his or her responses.

• Never interrupt a good story. If you think of other questions you want to ask, don't interrupt. Jot them down so you'll remember to ask them later.

• If your narrator strays from the question/topic, don't interrupt immediately. Sometimes the unexpected or unsolicited stories are the most interesting and informative.

• Interviews generally are more successful if there is no one else present other than the interviewer and the narrator.

• The interview should generally last no longer than an hour-and-a-half, as it can be fatiguing for both narrator and interviewer.

• If you decide to transcribe the interview, use the narrator's exact words. Don't paraphrase or try to "clean up" the language or correct bad grammar. After all, this is the narrator's story and should be transcribed exactly as it was told. If desired, you can always create a second, edited version later. But make sure to keep the original, unedited transcript.

• A good quality tape recorder with a separate microphone (rather than a built-in one) is best. Do not use micro or mini tape recorders. Their sound quality is fair at best.

• Make sure you are familiar with your equipment, and run a test check before doing the interview.

• Make sure you have extra batteries and audiotapes on hand. Use 90-minute audiotapes rather than 120-minute tapes as they are less likely to stretch.

• Whenever possible choose a location that is free of background noise (e.g. chiming clocks, barking dogs, etc.) and potential interruptions.

• Have your notes/questions/interview guide ready.

• Place the tape recorder/microphone on a flat, steady surface and as close as possible to both you and the narrator. You want to be able to hear both the question and the answer.

• Before recording, make sure to fast-forward the tape until it is beyond the clear leader section. You can not record over the clear leader.

• At the beginning of the interview, record identifying information such as the date and location of the interview, your name, and the narrator's name. Make sure to start recording on Side A.

• After a minute or two of recording your interview, stop and rewind the tape. Listen to the tape to make sure the recorder is working properly.

• Turn off or pause the tape recorder if the telephone rings or someone interrupts the interview.

• When you are sure that you are completely finished with the interview, punch out the tabs on the audiotape. This will prohibit further recording on the tape and prevent accidental erasure.

• Make sure to label all audiotapes and cassette cases with both the date and the narrator's name. If there is more than one tape, make sure to identify which is tape one and which is tape two.