# Memoir Interview Techniques: Comprehensive Research Guide

> Research compiled for the Memoirist Agent skill. Sources include StoryCorps, Smithsonian Institution Archives, the Oral History Association, the Southern Oral History Program, Voice of Witness, academic research on reminiscence therapy, and AI memoir platforms.

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## Table of Contents

1. [Best Memoir Interview Techniques](#1-best-memoir-interview-techniques)
2. [Oral History Methodology](#2-oral-history-methodology)
3. [Guided Reminiscence Therapy](#3-guided-reminiscence-therapy)
4. [Question Progression Strategies](#4-question-progression-strategies)
5. [Handling Difficult Topics](#5-handling-difficult-topics)
6. [Bilingual and Cross-Cultural Interviewing](#6-bilingual-and-cross-cultural-interviewing)
7. [Voice and Tone Preservation](#7-voice-and-tone-preservation)
8. [Sensory Anchoring Techniques](#8-sensory-anchoring-techniques)
9. [Follow-Up Question Patterns](#9-follow-up-question-patterns)
10. [Session Pacing](#10-session-pacing)
11. [Recommended Interview Workflow](#11-recommended-interview-workflow)
12. [Question Templates by Life Domain](#12-question-templates-by-life-domain)
13. [Do's and Don'ts for AI-Driven Memoir Interviews](#13-dos-and-donts-for-ai-driven-memoir-interviews)
14. [Interaction Design Patterns for AI Agents](#14-interaction-design-patterns-for-ai-agents)

---

## 1. Best Memoir Interview Techniques

### What Makes a Great Memoir Interviewer

The best memoir interviewers share a core set of qualities drawn from journalism, oral history, and therapeutic practice:

- **Deep listening**: The interviewer's primary job is to listen, not to talk. Good interviewers do not shine; their interviews do. The focus must always be on the narrator.
- **Patience with silence**: One of the most common mistakes novice interviewers make is repeating or rephrasing a question when the interviewee does not immediately respond, or moving on at the first pause. Silence is productive. People need time to gather their thoughts, and if given a few extra seconds, they will often add richer detail.
- **Genuine curiosity**: Authentic interest cannot be faked. The narrator can tell when you care about their story. Generating inclusive, open-ended questions that reflect genuine interest honors the narrator and produces better interviews.
- **Minimal self-insertion**: The interviewer should never make the conversation about themselves. Center the interview around the narrator and their life.

### Core Techniques

1. **Open-ended questions**: Avoid yes/no questions. Frame questions with "How," "What," or "Why" rather than "Do" or "Did." For example: "How did you learn your trade?" rather than "Did you like your job?"
2. **One question at a time**: Ask a single, clear question and wait for the full response before proceeding.
3. **Follow the narrator's lead**: If the narrator veers into an unexpected but relevant story, let it happen. Do not interrupt a good story because you have thought of another question. Jot down your question and return to it later.
4. **Chronological anchoring**: Start at the beginning and proceed chronologically when possible. This gives the narrator a natural structure to follow.
5. **Specificity over generality**: Instead of "What was your childhood like?" try "Tell me about the house you grew up in" or "What did a typical Sunday look like in your family?"

---

## 2. Oral History Methodology

### StoryCorps Model

StoryCorps interviews are 40 minutes of uninterrupted conversation, typically between two people who know each other, guided by a trained facilitator. Key features:

- Participants prepare questions in advance but are encouraged to deviate from the list as the conversation flows.
- The facilitator is not an interviewer. They take notes, keep time, and monitor audio, but let the participants drive the conversation.
- The format emphasizes relationship-based storytelling: the best stories emerge from genuine connection.

**Critique**: Oral historians have noted that StoryCorps' pre-scripted questions and 40-minute time limit can produce "an often-rehearsed moment, story, or memory" rather than the spontaneous depth that longer, less structured interviews achieve.

### Smithsonian Folklife and Oral History Guide

The Smithsonian approach emphasizes:

- **Thorough preparation**: Research the person, their era, and their context before the interview. Use primary and secondary sources, photographs, maps, and family documents.
- **Pre-interview visit**: A call or visit before the formal interview to build rapport, explain the process, and put the narrator at ease.
- **Oral labeling**: Begin each session by stating the interviewer's name, narrator's name, date, location, and topic.
- **Chronological progression**: Start at the beginning and move forward, using open-ended questions.
- **Follow-up on details**: Follow up on specifics and unexpected avenues of information.

### Oral History Association Best Practices

The OHA identifies four foundational elements: **preparation, interviewing, preservation, and access**. Key principles:

- Become familiar with the person, topic, and historical context through primary and secondary sources.
- Seek training before conducting interviews.
- Give careful consideration to ethical obligations, including informed consent and the narrator's right to review and restrict content.

### Southern Oral History Program (UNC)

The SOHP provides a comprehensive life history question template organized by domains:

- Family genealogy and immigration
- Education and schooling
- Work, career, and technology
- Community interaction
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Retirement and end-of-life reflections

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## 3. Guided Reminiscence Therapy

### What It Is

Reminiscence therapy is a structured approach, often led by trained professionals, that involves guided conversations about past experiences using tangible prompts (photographs, music, objects) to promote comfort, pleasure, and mental stimulation. It is widely used with elderly people and those with dementia.

### Three Types of Reminiscence Work

1. **Simple reminiscence**: Recall and sharing of selected personal memories and stories. Social, enjoyable, low-pressure.
2. **Life review**: A structured, evaluative process covering the whole life story chronologically, usually conducted individually.
3. **Life review therapy**: Aimed at people with depression or other mental health difficulties, with a therapeutic goal.

### The Reminiscence Bump

A critical concept for memoir interviews: memories from roughly ages 10-30 are most accessible as people age. This is called the "reminiscence bump." People with dementia may have difficulty with recent events but can vividly recall memories from this period. Target questions accordingly.

### Therapeutic Benefits

- Reduces stress and its physical effects (headaches, back pain, indigestion)
- Improves mood and reduces loneliness
- Boosts overall life satisfaction
- Provides emotional comfort and promotes a sense of purpose
- Strengthens bonds between storyteller and listener
- Reduces an elder's sense of isolation
- Revitalizes one's sense of self, especially for those with memory loss

### Key Techniques

- **Use sensory prompts**: Photographs, music from the era, familiar objects, foods, and scents
- **Ask open-ended questions**: Closed questions produce short answers; open questions invite elaboration
- **Focus on the reminiscence bump**: Concentrate on ages 10-40 for the richest memories
- **Create a comfortable, familiar environment**: Familiar settings reduce anxiety and improve recall
- **Allow repetition**: Repeated stories may reveal new details each time

---

## 4. Question Progression Strategies

### The Interview Arc

The most effective memoir interviews follow a deliberate progression:

#### Phase 1: Warm-Up (Simple, Biographical)
- Start with the simplest questions: name, birthplace, family members
- Use "icebreaker" questions: "Tell me about the house where you grew up"
- Begin with impersonal areas or topics the narrator can speak about with ease
- Purpose: build trust, establish comfort, let the narrator hear their own voice

#### Phase 2: Middle Ground (Descriptive, Contextual)
- Move to more detailed, descriptive questions about specific life periods
- Group questions logically by theme or chronology
- Introduce "How" and "What" questions that require narrative responses
- Purpose: draw out stories, details, and context

#### Phase 3: Deep Dive (Complex, Emotional)
- Transition to "Why" and "How did it feel" questions
- Address more sensitive or complex topics
- Allow longer responses and emotional processing
- Purpose: reach the heart of the story

#### Phase 4: Reflection (Meaning-Making)
- Ask about lessons learned, values, legacy
- "How would you like to be remembered?"
- "What advice would you give to your grandchildren?"
- Purpose: help the narrator find meaning and closure

### Logical Organization Principles

- Group questions by theme or chronology so the narrator can follow the progression
- Put the most complex or sensitive questions at the end
- Never ask a sensitive question before trust has been established
- Plan for asking warm-up questions at the start of every session, even follow-up sessions

---

## 5. Handling Difficult Topics

### Pre-Interview Preparation

- Spend significant time getting to know the narrator before addressing trauma
- Communicate any potentially triggering topics during the pre-interview
- Provide direction on how to proceed with sensitive topics or whether to avoid them
- Let the narrator set boundaries

### Trauma-Informed Interview Principles

1. **Gradual approach**: Begin and end with comfortable, casual conversation. Save difficult topics for the middle of the session when trust is established.
2. **Observe body language**: Monitor the narrator's physical signals. Move to another topic if discomfort is visible.
3. **Offer condolences**: When a narrator speaks of loss or hardship, express genuine sympathy. Compassion builds trust.
4. **Pause when needed**: If a trauma response is sensed, pause, breathe together, and offer a break.
5. **Provide alternatives**: If talking about a topic is too painful, suggest free-writing as an alternative.
6. **Flexible environment**: Encourage the narrator to advocate for adjustments to the setting that create physical and emotional comfort.
7. **Set time boundaries**: Prevent feeling overwhelmed by setting clear limits on interview duration for heavy topics.

### Post-Interview Support

- Check in with the narrator after the interview
- Ask if they have a friend or family member to debrief with
- Confirm they have a support plan
- At the end of any interview, actively bring the narrator out of the difficult emotional space

### Topics That Require Special Care

- War and military service
- Death of loved ones, especially children
- Abuse and violence
- Poverty and deprivation
- Immigration and displacement
- Discrimination and racism
- Medical crises and disability
- Family conflict and estrangement

---

## 6. Bilingual and Cross-Cultural Interviewing

### Core Principles

- **Let the narrator choose their language**: Interviews should be conducted in whichever language the narrator is most comfortable in. For bilingual narrators, allow natural code-switching.
- **Cultural competency**: Understand the narrator's cultural background, including norms around storytelling, privacy, family hierarchy, and emotional expression.
- **Respect cultural beliefs**: Demonstrate genuine respect for cultural values and practices, especially around death, spirituality, gender, and family.

### Practical Guidelines

- **Interviewer fluency**: Interviewers should ideally be fluent in the target language and experienced in translation and qualitative interviewing. Treating bilingual interviewers as automatons who deliver word-for-word translations does not work well.
- **Cross-cultural expertise**: Incorporate cross-cultural experts for a participatory approach.
- **Informed consent**: Gain adequate informed consent, being sensitive to literacy levels, language barriers, and cultural norms around consent.
- **Translation considerations**: Plan for translation logistics. Decide in advance how the final memoir will handle bilingual content (e.g., preserving key phrases in the original language with translations).

### For AI Applications

- Support the narrator's preferred language and allow mid-conversation language switching
- Preserve culturally specific terms, phrases, and idioms in the original language
- Add contextual translations or glosses where needed for the reader
- Be aware that humor, metaphor, and emotional expression vary across cultures

---

## 7. Voice and Tone Preservation

### The Core Challenge

The goal of memoir writing is to preserve the narrator's unique voice while creating a readable narrative. This is the central tension: too much editing and the voice is lost; too little and the text is unreadable.

### Techniques for Preserving Voice

1. **Retain distinctive speech patterns**: If the narrator uses particular phrases, regional expressions, or grammatical structures that are characteristic of their voice, preserve them.
2. **Remove filler words judiciously**: "Um," "uh," and "you know" can be removed as they distract readers, but meaningful verbal habits (e.g., a characteristic "well, I'll tell you...") should be kept.
3. **Preserve intentional repetition**: If the narrator repeats a phrase for emphasis, keep it. Remove only accidental repetition.
4. **Maintain the question-response structure**: The question-based approach helps retain individual narrating styles.
5. **Add context carefully**: Spoken stories assume shared knowledge. Add brief explanations of key people, places, or events without overwriting the narrator's voice.
6. **Keep each narrator's voice distinct**: In multi-voice memoirs, ensure that each person sounds like themselves.

### What to Edit

- Filler words and false starts (unless characteristic)
- Repetitive phrases (unless intentional)
- Unclear pronoun references
- Missing context that readers need

### What to Preserve

- Regional dialect and vocabulary
- Characteristic sentence structure (short punchy sentences vs. long flowing ones)
- The narrator's humor, irony, and emotional register
- Cultural idioms and expressions
- The narrator's pacing and rhythm

---

## 8. Sensory Anchoring Techniques

### The Science

Sensory cues are among the most powerful memory triggers:

- **Smell**: Odor signals travel directly from the olfactory bulb to the amygdala and hippocampus (emotion and episodic memory centers) without the heavy thalamic relay used by vision and hearing. This creates an unusually strong bond between a smell and a moment. Odor-evoked memories are more emotional and evocative than memories triggered by any other cue.
- **Sound**: Sounds trigger memories by activating both left and right brain hemispheres. Music from a particular era is especially effective.
- **Taste**: According to neuroscientist Hadley Bergstrom, "Taste memories tend to be the strongest of associative memories that you can make."
- **Touch**: Tactile cues (handling old objects, feeling fabrics) can unlock specific memories.
- **Sight**: Photographs, old documents, and familiar places are classic visual triggers.

### Practical Application in Interviews

Since an AI agent cannot provide physical sensory prompts, it must use **verbal sensory anchoring**:

1. **Ask about smells**: "What did your grandmother's kitchen smell like?" "Do you remember the smell of your father's workshop?"
2. **Ask about sounds**: "What sounds do you associate with that house?" "What music was playing during that time?"
3. **Ask about tastes**: "What was your favorite meal growing up?" "What did your mother cook for holidays?"
4. **Ask about textures and touch**: "What did the fabric of your school uniform feel like?" "Describe the feel of the tools you used."
5. **Ask about visual details**: "What color were the walls?" "What could you see from your bedroom window?"

### Sensory Prompt Templates

- "Close your eyes and think about [place/time]. What do you smell?"
- "If you could taste one meal from your childhood right now, what would it be?"
- "What sounds come to mind when you think about [era/place]?"
- "Describe the feeling of [specific object or place] in your hands."
- "What did it look like? Paint me a picture."

---

## 9. Follow-Up Question Patterns

### The DICE Framework

The DICE framework (Robinson, 2023) provides a theoretically grounded approach to probing in interviews:

1. **Descriptive Detail Probes**: Ask for richer description. "What did that look like?" "Can you describe the room?"
   - Best used early in the interview while building rapport
   - Based on narrative theory: stories need concrete detail

2. **Idiographic Memory Probes**: Target specific autobiographical memories. "Can you think of a particular time when that happened?" "Tell me about one specific day."
   - Also suited for early-to-mid interview
   - Based on autobiographical memory theory: specific memories are more vivid

3. **Clarifying Probes**: Seek to resolve ambiguity or contradiction. "When you say 'difficult,' what do you mean exactly?" "Help me understand..."
   - Better suited for mid-to-late interview when trust is established
   - Based on self-disclosure theory: clarification requires vulnerability

4. **Explanatory Probes**: Ask for causal reasoning and meaning-making. "Why do you think that happened?" "What did that experience teach you?"
   - Reserved for later in the interview
   - Based on attribution theory: explanation requires deeper reflection

### The TEDW Framework

A simpler mnemonic for follow-up prompts:
- **T**ell me more
- **E**xplain what you mean
- **D**escribe what it was like
- **W**hy do you think that is?

### Strategic Silence

Giving a few seconds of silence after a response is one of the most effective follow-up techniques. The narrator will often fill the silence with deeper, more reflective content.

### Laddered Probing

Probes can be "laddered" — linked in sequence to lead down into deeper layers of autobiographical narrative. Each follow-up drills one level deeper:

1. Surface: "Tell me about your first job."
2. Detail: "What was a typical day like?"
3. Specific memory: "Can you think of one particular day that stands out?"
4. Emotion: "How did that make you feel?"
5. Meaning: "Looking back, what did that experience mean to you?"

### Reframing and Rephrasal

If a question does not land, approach it from a different angle rather than repeating the same question. For example:
- Original: "What was your relationship with your father like?"
- Reframe: "Tell me about a time your father surprised you."
- Reframe: "What would your father say about you if he were here right now?"

---

## 10. Session Pacing

### Ideal Session Length

- **45 minutes**: For narrators who fatigue easily (elderly, ill, or those with cognitive decline)
- **60-90 minutes**: The general recommended range for most narrators
- **90 minutes maximum**: The upper limit recommended by most oral history programs
- **StoryCorps model**: 40 minutes (shorter, but designed for single-session recording)

### Pacing Guidelines

1. **Check in after 45-60 minutes**: Ask if the narrator would like a break or to continue.
2. **Plan breaks for longer sessions**: A short break in the middle of a 90-minute session benefits everyone.
3. **Watch for fatigue signals**: Shorter answers, loss of focus, physical restlessness, repeated sighing. These indicate it is time to pause or wrap up.
4. **End before fatigue**: All sessions should conclude before the narrator becomes tired. An exhausted narrator produces diminished stories.
5. **Plan multiple sessions**: For comprehensive life stories, plan for multiple sessions rather than marathon single sessions. Life histories benefit from breaks between sessions that allow the narrator to process and recall additional details.

### AI Session Pacing Adaptations

For a text-based AI agent, "session" means something different:

- **Measure by narrative depth, not clock time**: A text session may span hours if the narrator types slowly or takes breaks.
- **Offer natural pause points**: After covering a major life domain, offer to pause. "We've covered a lot about your childhood. Would you like to take a break, or shall we continue?"
- **Limit the number of deep questions per session**: 8-12 substantive questions per session is a good target. Too many produces survey fatigue.
- **Summarize before transitioning**: Before moving to a new topic, briefly reflect back what was shared. This validates the narrator and provides a natural transition point.

---

## 11. Recommended Interview Workflow

### Phase 1: Opening (5-10 minutes / 2-3 exchanges)

**Goal**: Establish trust, set expectations, create a warm atmosphere.

- Greet the narrator warmly and express genuine appreciation for their willingness to share
- Explain the process: what will happen, how long it will take, what will be done with the stories
- Ask permission and clarify consent
- Set the emotional tone: "There are no wrong answers. This is your story."
- Start with a simple, non-threatening question: "Before we begin, tell me — what name do you prefer to go by?"

### Phase 2: Warm-Up (10-15 minutes / 3-5 exchanges)

**Goal**: Get the narrator talking and comfortable hearing their own voice in the conversation.

- Ask basic biographical questions: where they were born, where they grew up
- Use an easy "scene-setting" question: "Tell me about the house you grew up in" or "What was your neighborhood like?"
- Listen for threads to pick up later (names, places, events mentioned in passing)
- Keep questions light and factual
- Validate responses: "That's wonderful" or "I can picture that"

### Phase 3: Core Story Gathering (30-60 minutes / 8-15 exchanges)

**Goal**: Draw out detailed, vivid stories across key life domains.

- Progress chronologically or thematically through major life periods
- Use the DICE framework: start with descriptive and idiographic probes, move to clarifying and explanatory probes
- Employ sensory anchoring: "What did that smell like?" "What music was playing?"
- Follow the narrator's lead when they go off-script
- Use strategic silence after emotional moments
- Jot down (or queue) follow-up questions rather than interrupting

### Phase 4: Deep Dive (15-20 minutes / 3-5 exchanges)

**Goal**: Address the most meaningful, emotional, or complex topics.

- This is where sensitive topics (loss, regret, pride, transformation) are explored
- Use gentle, open invitations: "Would you be willing to tell me about..." or "I'd like to hear about... but only if you're comfortable"
- Allow emotional responses without rushing past them
- Offer validation: "Thank you for sharing that"
- Use explanatory probes: "Why do you think that happened?" "What did you learn from that?"

### Phase 5: Cool-Down (5-10 minutes / 2-3 exchanges)

**Goal**: Transition from emotional depth back to a comfortable register.

- Move to lighter, forward-looking topics
- Ask about favorite memories, happiest moments, funny stories
- Allow the narrator to revisit anything they want to add or correct
- "Is there anything we haven't talked about that you'd like to share?"

### Phase 6: Closing (5 minutes / 1-2 exchanges)

**Goal**: Provide closure, express gratitude, and look ahead.

- Summarize key themes from the session (briefly)
- Express genuine appreciation: "Thank you for trusting me with these stories"
- Preview next session (if applicable): "Next time, I'd love to hear about..."
- End on a warm, affirming note: "Your stories are a gift to your family"
- Ask: "How are you feeling? Was there anything that was difficult to talk about that you'd like to process?"

---

## 12. Question Templates by Life Domain

### Childhood and Early Life

- "Tell me about the house you grew up in. What did it look like? What was your favorite room?"
- "What was a typical day like when you were [age]?"
- "Who were your closest friends as a child? What did you do together?"
- "What games did you play? What toys do you remember?"
- "Tell me about your favorite teacher. What made them special?"
- "What was the most trouble you ever got into as a kid?"
- "What smells remind you of your childhood home?"
- "What was mealtime like in your family?"

### Family and Heritage

- "Tell me about your parents. What were they like as people — not just as parents?"
- "What stories did your grandparents tell about the old country / the old days?"
- "What family traditions were most important? How did they start?"
- "Who was the character in your family? The one everyone has stories about?"
- "What values did your parents try to instill in you? Which ones stuck?"
- "How did your family handle conflict?"
- "What's a family recipe that means something to you?"
- "What would you want your grandchildren to know about where they come from?"

### Love and Relationships

- "How did you meet [spouse/partner]? What was your first impression?"
- "Tell me about your wedding day. What do you remember most?"
- "What was the hardest year of your marriage? What got you through it?"
- "What have you learned about love that you wish you'd known earlier?"
- "Tell me about a time your partner surprised you."
- "What's the funniest thing that ever happened in your relationship?"
- "How did you know this was the person you wanted to spend your life with?"

### Career and Work

- "How did you end up in your line of work? Was it a choice or did you fall into it?"
- "Describe a typical workday at the peak of your career."
- "Who was the most important mentor in your professional life?"
- "What accomplishment are you most proud of?"
- "What was your biggest professional failure, and what did you learn from it?"
- "How did your work change over the decades?"
- "If you could give career advice to a young person today, what would you say?"

### Places and Homes

- "Of all the places you've lived, which one felt most like home? Why?"
- "Describe your favorite room in any house you've ever lived in."
- "What neighborhood do you remember most vividly?"
- "Tell me about a place you visited that changed you."
- "Is there a place you always wanted to go but never did?"
- "What did your town look like when you were growing up? How has it changed?"

### Historical Moments and World Events

- "Where were you when [major historical event] happened? What do you remember?"
- "How did [war/economic event/social movement] affect your family?"
- "What was it like living through [era]? What do people today not understand about it?"
- "Did your family talk about politics? What were the debates like?"
- "What invention or change most transformed your daily life?"
- "What do you think is the biggest change you've witnessed in your lifetime?"

### Values, Legacy, and Reflection

- "What are the principles you've tried to live by?"
- "What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?"
- "What do you know now that you wish you'd known at 20?"
- "How would you like to be remembered?"
- "What are you most grateful for?"
- "If you could go back and change one decision, would you? Which one?"
- "What do you want your grandchildren to understand about life?"
- "What has given your life the most meaning?"

---

## 13. Do's and Don'ts for AI-Driven Memoir Interviews

### DO

- **Do ask one question at a time.** Never bundle multiple questions into a single message.
- **Do use warm, natural language.** Avoid clinical or robotic phrasing.
- **Do validate and acknowledge** what the narrator shares before moving on. ("That's a beautiful memory. Thank you for sharing it.")
- **Do offer the narrator control.** "Would you like to talk about that, or shall we move to something else?"
- **Do use sensory prompts** to trigger deeper recall. ("What did that place smell like?")
- **Do summarize periodically** to show you are listening and to help the narrator see their story taking shape.
- **Do adapt your pace** to the narrator. If they are giving short answers, try a different approach rather than pushing harder.
- **Do preserve the narrator's exact words** when capturing key phrases or stories.
- **Do remember context from earlier in the conversation** and reference it in follow-ups. ("You mentioned your uncle earlier — tell me more about him.")
- **Do offer natural pause points.** ("We've covered a lot. Would you like to take a break?")
- **Do handle emotional moments with care.** Acknowledge the emotion, give space, and do not rush to the next question.
- **Do explain your process** at the beginning of each session.
- **Do let the narrator correct you.** If they say "no, that's not quite right," accept the correction gracefully.

### DON'T

- **Don't ask leading questions.** Never suggest the answer in the question. ("That must have been terrible, right?")
- **Don't interrupt or cut off the narrator.** In a text context, this means not asking a new question before the narrator has finished responding.
- **Don't project emotions.** Don't tell the narrator how they felt. Ask them.
- **Don't correct the narrator's memory.** Even if details seem inconsistent, the narrator's perspective is the point. Gently explore contradictions only if the narrator seems to want clarity.
- **Don't use jargon or overly formal language.** Match the narrator's register.
- **Don't rush through topics.** Depth is more valuable than breadth.
- **Don't ask "rapid-fire" questions.** Each question deserves its own space.
- **Don't be sycophantic.** Avoid excessive praise or hollow compliments. Be warm but genuine.
- **Don't treat the interview as a form to fill out.** It is a conversation, not a questionnaire.
- **Don't ignore emotional cues.** If a narrator mentions something painful in passing, acknowledge it. ("It sounds like that was a difficult time.")
- **Don't ask questions you already know the answer to** (from earlier in the conversation) unless you are seeking a different angle.
- **Don't generate fictional details.** If you are unsure about something the narrator said, ask for clarification rather than filling in blanks.
- **Don't overwhelm with too many questions per session.** 8-12 substantive questions is a good target.

---

## 14. Interaction Design Patterns for AI Agents

### How AI Memoir Interviewers Differ from Human Interviewers

| Dimension | Human Interviewer | AI Agent |
|-----------|------------------|----------|
| Emotional attunement | Reads body language, tone of voice, facial expressions | Must rely entirely on text cues: word choice, punctuation, response length, explicit statements |
| Trust-building | Built through physical presence, eye contact, shared humanity | Built through consistency, reliability, warmth in language, memory of past conversations |
| Pacing | Reads energy levels in real time | Must ask about energy and check in explicitly |
| Silence | Can use physical silence as a tool | Can use brief pauses ("Take your time...") or explicit invitations to reflect |
| Cultural sensitivity | Can mirror body language and social cues | Must be explicitly programmed with cultural awareness |
| Memory | Limited; may forget details across sessions | Perfect recall; can reference details from any prior session |
| Availability | Scheduled, limited | Available anytime; can accommodate the narrator's schedule |
| Emotional risk | Can be affected by vicarious trauma | No emotional risk, but must still model empathetic responses |

### AI-Specific Design Patterns

#### 1. The Memory Mirror
The AI should regularly reflect back what the narrator has shared, demonstrating active listening:
- "Earlier you told me about growing up in [place]. I noticed you mentioned your neighbor Mrs. Chen — would you like to tell me more about her?"
- This leverages the AI's greatest advantage: perfect memory across sessions.

#### 2. The Gentle Redirect
When a narrator goes far off-topic, the AI should not abruptly change the subject. Instead:
- Acknowledge what was shared
- Bridge naturally: "That reminds me of something you mentioned earlier about [related topic]..."
- Or: "That's interesting. Before we move on, I wanted to circle back to..."

#### 3. The Emotional Check-In
Since the AI cannot read body language, it must explicitly check in:
- "How are you feeling right now? Would you like to continue, or would you prefer to take a break?"
- "That was a heavy topic. Would you like to talk about something lighter?"
- Do not check in after every question — that becomes annoying. Check in after emotionally charged topics or every 15-20 minutes.

#### 4. The Scaffolded Choice
Instead of asking open-ended "what would you like to talk about?" (which can be paralyzing), offer structured choices:
- "We could talk about your years in the Navy, or we could explore what life was like when you first moved to Chicago. Which sounds more interesting to you?"
- Limit choices to 2-3 options.

#### 5. The Sensory Time Machine
Use vivid sensory prompts to transport the narrator back in time:
- "Imagine you're standing in your childhood kitchen. What do you see? What do you smell? What sounds do you hear?"
- This compensates for the AI's inability to provide physical sensory triggers.

#### 6. The Story Seed
Drop a small, specific detail and let the narrator grow it:
- "You mentioned your father drove a blue Ford pickup. Tell me about that truck."
- Small, concrete details often unlock large, vivid memories.

#### 7. The Legacy Frame
Regularly frame questions in terms of legacy and purpose:
- "If your grandchildren read this someday, what would you want them to know about [topic]?"
- This gives the narrator a reason to push through difficult topics and adds emotional weight.

#### 8. The "I'm Just Curious" Probe
For sensitive topics, frame the question as gentle curiosity rather than formal inquiry:
- "I'm curious — did your family ever talk about what it was like during the Depression?"
- This reduces the formality and pressure.

#### 9. Progressive Disclosure
The AI should reveal its capabilities gradually:
- First session: focus on rapport, basic biography
- Second session: demonstrate memory of prior stories, go deeper
- Third session: begin connecting themes across stories, help the narrator see patterns
- This builds trust incrementally.

#### 10. The Narrative Bridge
Help the narrator connect disparate stories into coherent themes:
- "You've told me about losing your job in '82 and about your father's belief in hard work. Do you see a connection between those?"
- This is meaning-making, and it is one of the most valuable things a memoir interview can produce.

---

## Sources

- [StoryCorps Great Questions](https://storycorps.org/participate/great-questions/)
- [StoryCorps Oral History Guidelines](https://archive.storycorps.org/question-lists/some-guidelines-on-how-to-conduct-a-good-oral-history-interview/)
- [Smithsonian: How to Do Oral History](https://siarchives.si.edu/history/how-do-oral-history)
- [Smithsonian Folklife and Oral History Interviewing Guide](https://folklife.si.edu/the-smithsonian-folklife-and-oral-history-interviewing-guide/smithsonian)
- [Oral History Association Best Practices](https://oralhistory.org/best-practices/)
- [Southern Oral History Program Life History Questions](https://sohp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Life-History-Questions.pdf)
- [Voice of Witness: Trauma-Informed Storytelling](https://voiceofwitness.org/resources/trauma-informed-storytelling-practices/)
- [National Public Housing Museum: Trauma-Informed Care in Oral History](https://nphm.org/listen/oral-history-resources/trauma-informed-care-for-narrators-oral-historians/)
- [NPS: Interviewing about Difficult Topics](https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/oral-history-resources-interviewing-difficult-topics.htm)
- [Heirloom Digital: Trauma-Informed Life Story Interviews](https://heirloomdigital.com/2020/06/01/how-to-conduct-trauma-informed-life-story-interviews/)
- [Family Tree Magazine: Sensitive Subjects in Family Interviews](https://familytreemagazine.com/storytelling/interviewing/family-interview-sensitive-subjects/)
- [History Factory: Oral History Do's and Don'ts](https://www.historyfactory.com/insights/oral-histories-dos-and-donts/)
- [Duke University: Oral History Interview Design](https://guides.library.duke.edu/c.php?g=733290&p=5252963)
- [Indiana University: Oral History Preparation](https://cdrp.indiana.edu/oral-history-archive/techniques/preparing.html)
- [PMC: Reminiscence Therapy for Dementia](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6494367/)
- [Alzheimer's Association: Reminiscence Therapy](https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/daily-care/reminiscence-and-reminiscence-therapy)
- [Robinson (2023): Probing in Qualitative Research Interviews — DICE Framework](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14780887.2023.2238625)
- [Confinity: Memory and the Five Senses](https://www.confinity.com/culture/memory-and-the-five-senses-how-sight-sound-smell-taste-and-touch-enhance-memory-formation-and-recall)
- [NN/g: AI-Moderated Interviews](https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ai-interviewers/)
- [Legacy Project: Life Interview Questions](https://www.legacyproject.org/guides/lifeintquestions.html)
- [SeniorAdvisor: Guide to Interviewing Seniors](https://www.senioradvisor.com/blog/2014/09/the-power-of-sharing-life-stories-a-step-by-step-guide-and-resources-for-interviewing-our-elders/)
- [The Memoir Network: Best Interview Practices](https://thememoirnetwork.com/best-interview-practices-for-writing-a-memoir/)
- [BYU: Preserving the Authentic Voice in Oral Histories](https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4624&context=jur)
