The article concerns the problem of a lack of both academic tools as well as a catalogue of basic epistemological objectives that could serve oral history in Poland. It has to be stated, however, that there are already many institutions, conferences and journals, that focus on the issue of oral history. The author proposes some solutions that could improve this methodological gap, based on her own experience in oral history, such as introducing a research diary as a scientific research tool.
The author discusses an issue of forming questions in oral history. There are two types of them – research questions and interview questions. Instead of analyzing how to ask questions, the interviewer should rather focus on why to ask them. The article proves that asking questions in oral history is less about formal elements such as what language should be used or what matters should be raised, but more about such elements as emotions or the overall atmosphere of an interview. The author gives some clues on how to prepare proper questions, what difficulties may appear and what to avoid in order to carry out a good interview.
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