ORAL HISTORY AS A TOOL FOR SHAPING AND INVESTIGATING COLLECTIVE MEMORY NARRATIVES

Анотація

This article examines the methodological foundations of collecting, documenting, and preserving oral history testimonies as an important tool for studying collective memory narratives. The relevance of the research is determined by the growing interest in the individual experiences of participants in historical events, the expanding use of oral history methods in the humanities, and the need to preserve testimonies that complement traditional written sources. Oral history makes it possible to record subjective interpretations of the past, reconstruct local historical narratives, and investigate the mechanisms through which collective memory is formed and transmitted within various social groups.

The purpose of the article is to analyze the principal approaches to organizing oral history research, identify the specific features of respondent selection, interview conduct, documentation of collected materials, and the provision of their long-term preservation. The study employs methods of scholarly literature analysis, synthesis of methodological recommendations in the field of oral history, and systematization of practical experience in conducting oral history research.

The article examines the main stages of collecting oral history materials, including researcher preparation, the search for and selection of respondents, the choice of interview type, and the organization of recording and documentation processes. Particular attention is given to the characteristics of biographical, thematic, genealogical, and group interviews, as well as to the significance of the narrative approach for studying individual and collective experiences. The study also analyzes the requirements for supporting documentation, the principles of transcribing oral speech, and the specific features of archiving oral history materials in accordance with standards of confidentiality and scholarly use.

The findings demonstrate that the quality of oral history sources directly depends on adherence to methodological principles governing the preparation, conduct, and documentation of interviews. It is argued that oral history serves not only as a source of factual information but also as an important mechanism for the formation, preservation, and transmission of collective memory. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of applying the proposed recommendations to scientific, educational, and archival projects related to the study of the historical experiences of individuals and communities.

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