Questionnaires

1. What is your name? How old are you? Where do you live? Who do you live with?
2. What is it like to be a kid/teenager?
3. Tell us something that you remember from the time when you were very little.
4. What is different for you now? What did you use to love, and what are your favourites now?
5. Have your parents or grandparents told you a story that made a strong impression on you, and would you like to share it with us?
6. Do you think your parents' or grandparents' childhood was different from yours? How was it different?
7. Who are your best friends? What do you do together?
8. Do you sometimes feel different from other children? How?
9. Has anything sad ever happened to you? What?
10. Are there things you are afraid of?
11. Tell us about an interesting dream of yours.
12. Are there people in your life you rely on and know will always help you? Who do you trust the most?
13. Who do you look up to, are you a fan of someone (like them, follow them, want to be like them)? Why?
14. And who is your favourite book/movie character? Why?
15. Do you like going to kindergarten/school? Tell me a story from your time there.
16. What do you like to do in your free time?
17. How do you usually spend your days?
18. What is the funniest/happiest thing you have ever experienced?
19. What is your happiest memory so far?
20. Show/tell me something only you can/know.
21. What are your dreams? What do you want to happen to you?
22. What do you think are the most important things in life?
23. Is there anything you want to tell everyone watching/listening?
 

 

1. Introduce yourself in a few sentences. What is your name? How old are you? Where do you live? Are you currently studying or working? What is your marital status? Do you have kids?
2. What do you remember from your childhood? What did you do? What were your favourite activities?
3. What are your most vivid memories related to your parents or grandparents? What did you learn from them? Is there a story (memory) they told you that you would like to preserve by sharing it with us?
4. What is your relationship with your parents?
5. Tell us about your friends - what kind of people they are, what you have in common.
6. Is there an event (social, societal) that has impacted your life and changed it somehow?
7. Have you ever experienced a natural disaster? What happened?
8. What has been the biggest challenge for you so far - an incident/event that impacted and changed you as a person?
9. Tell us about the firsts - your first memory, first day at school or high school, first challenge, first love?
10. What memories make you smile? Tell us about your happy moments or experiences that have made you truly happy, proud, and excited.
11. Tell us about a particularly funny or crazy experience you have had - a night out, a reckless or adventurous act.
12. Do you travel? Which places have impressed you the most and why? Tell us an interesting story from such a trip.
13. Tell us about an exciting dream you remember.
14. Has anything supernatural/magical ever happened to you? What is your opinion of it?
15. What do you like doing in your free time? Do you have any hobbies or interests that are unique to you?
16. How did you choose your study/job? Is this what you want to do in the future?
17. How do you usually spend your days?
18. Do you have someone by your side (significant other, spouse)? How did you meet them? What is your favourite memory with them? What do love, relationships, and partnerships mean to you?
19. Do you have a child/children? What do you like to do together?
20. What do you consider important in life? What is valuable to you, what do you believe in, what do you condemn? Are these things the same for the people around you?
21. Show me a craft, an action, or a skill you have mastered and is your trademark.
22. Is there anything that only you know and want to share now?
23. Share a dream of yours with us. It can be something you have already achieved or something you keep dreaming about and believe will happen.
24. Is there anything you truly believe in with your entire soul? What is it?
25. What do you believe is your calling in life, and how will you make your mark?
26. Is there anything you want to say to the people who will be watching/listening to you a 100 years from now? Is there anything you want to share with them, or maybe wish them something?

 

1. Introduce yourself in a few sentences. What is your name? How old are you? Where do you live? What is your occupation? What is your marital status?
2. What do you remember from your childhood? What were your favourite activities? What were the things you and your friends usually did as children?
3. What are your most vivid memories related to your parents or grandparents? What did you learn from them? Is there a story (memory) they told you that you would like to preserve by sharing it with us?
4. Are there any historical (social, societal) events that have impacted your life and changed it somehow? How have they changed it exactly?
5. Have you experienced a major natural disaster? What happened? How did you, your loved ones, and the community cope?
6. What has been the biggest challenge for you so far - an incident/event that impacted and changed you as a person?
7. Can you list the most important moments of your life (from your childhood up until today)?
8. Tell us about the firsts - your first memory, first day at school or high school, first challenge, first love?
9. What memories make you smile? Tell us about your happy moments or experiences that have made you truly happy, proud, and excited.
10. Tell us about a particularly funny or crazy experience you have had - a night out, a reckless or adventurous act.
11. Do you travel? Are your trips usually business-related or for leisure? Which places have impressed you the most and why? Tell us an interesting story from such a trip.
12. Tell us about an exciting dream you remember.
13. Has anything supernatural/magical ever happened to you? What is your opinion of it? What do you like doing in your free time? Do you have any hobbies or interests that are unique to you?
14. How did you choose your job? Is work an important part of your life? Why?
15. How do you usually spend your days?
16. Tell us about your family. How did you meet your spouse? What was your wedding like? What is your favuorite memory with them? What binds your family together and keeps it going (if the person is married/if they are divorced, they can discuss both topics - marriage and divorce)
17. Do you have a child/children? What is it like to be a parent? What is hard and what is amazing? Share your favourite sory related to your child.
18. Do you think there are significant differences between each generation (e.g., between your parents' generation, your generation, and the generation of today's children)?
19. What do you consider important in life? What is valuable to you, what do you believe in, what do you condemn? Are these things the same for your community and the people you live with?
20. Show me a craft, an action, or a skill that you have mastered and is your trademark.
21. Is there anything that only you know and want to share now?
22. Share a dream of yours with us. It can be something you have already achieved or something you keep dreaming about and believe will happen.
23. Is there anything you truly believe in with your entire soul? What is it?
24. What do you believe is your calling in life, and how will you make your mark?
25. Is there anything you want to say to the people who will be watching/listening to you a 100 years from now? Is there anything you want to share with them, or maybe wish them something? 

 

1. Introduce yourself in a few sentences. What is your name? How old are you? Where do you live (or where are we now)? What is your job and do still you work? What is your marital status? Do you have any kids (grandkids)?
2. What do you remember from your childhood? What were your favourite activities? What were the things you and your friends usually do as children?
3. What are your most vivid memories related to your parents or grandparents? What did you learn from them? Is there a story (memory) they told you that you would like to preserve by sharing it with us?
4. Are there any historical (social) events you remember that have impacted your life somehow? How did they change it exactly? What was it like before and after (November 10th, the conflict in former Yugoslavia, etc.)?
5. Have you ever experienced a major natural disaster? What happened? How did you, your family, and your community cope?
6. What has been the biggest challenge for you so far - an incident/event that impacted and changed you as a person? How have you been able to move on?
7. Can you list the most important moments of your life (from your childhood up until today)?
8. Can you split your life into periods (childhood, youth...)? And which one was different?
9. Tell us about the firsts - your first memory, first day at school or high school, first challenge, first love?
10. What memories make you smile? Tell us about your happy moments or experiences that have made you truly happy, proud, and excited?
11. Tell us about a particularly funny or crazy experience of yours - a reckless or adventurous act.
12. Have you travelled a lot, and do you still do it? Have your travels been mostly related to business or leisure? Which places impressed you the most and why? Tell us an interesting story from such a trip.
13. Tell us about an exciting dream that you remember.
14. Has anything supernatural/magical ever happened to you? What is your opinion of it?
15. Do you have any hobbies or interests that are unique to you?
16. How did you choose your job? Is work an important part of your life? Why? (Depending on their age: what do/did you work as? If retired – ask them to point out the differences between the time when they used to work and everyday life as a retiree)
17. How do You usually spend your days?
18. Tell us about your family. How did you meet your spouse? What was your wedding like? What is your favourite memory with them? What binds your family together and keeps it going (if the person is married/if they are divorced, they can discuss both topics - marriage and divorce)
19. Tell us about your children. What are your fondest memories with them? What is it like to be a parent - to care, to nurture? What were they able to take from you and accomplish on their own? What do you wish you could have taught them but failed?
20. How does it feel to have grandchildren? Do you communicate often? What do you teach them? (only if the person has mentioned that they have grandchildren)
21. Do you think there are significant differences between each generation (e.g., between your parents' generation, your generation, your children's generation, and finally, your grandchildren's generation)?
22. What do you consider important in life? What is valuable to you, what do you believe in, what do you condemn? Are these things the same for your community, and for the people you live with?
23. Share a dream of yours with us. It can be something you have already achieved or something you keep dreaming about and believe will happen.
24. Show me a craft, an action, or a skill that you have mastered  and is your trademark.
25. Show me a craft, an action, or a skill that is native to where you are and sets your community apart from others.
26. Is there anything that only you know and want to share now?
27. Is there something you truly believe in with your entire soul? What is it?
28. What do you believe is your calling in life, and how will you make your mark?
29. Is there anything you want to say to the people who will be watching/listening to you a 100 years from now? Would you like to give them advice, share something, or wish them something?

 

1. Introduce yourself in a few sentences. What is your name? How old are you? Where do you live (or where are we now)? What have you worked as? What is your marital status? Do you have any children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren?
2. What do you remember from your childhood? What were your favourite activities? What did you and other children do back then?
3. What are your most vivid memories related to your parents or grandparents? What did you learn from them? Is there a story (memory) they told you that you would like to preserve for future generations by sharing it with us?
4. Are there any historical (social) events that you remember that have impacted your life somehow? How exactly did they change it? (World War II, September 9th,  November 10th, the conflict in former Yugoslavia, etc.)
5. Have you ever experienced a major natural disaster? What happened? How did you, your family, and your community cope?
6. What has been the biggest challenge for you so far - an incident/event that has impacted and/or changed you as a person? Were you able to move on and how?
7. Share a memory with someone who is not with us anymore. Show me a picture or video they are in.   
8. Can you list the most important moments of your life (from your youth up until today)?
9. Tell us about the firsts - your first memory, first day at school or high school, first challenge, first love?
10. What memories make you smile? Tell us about your happy moments, experiences that have made you truly happy, proud, and excited?
11. Tell us about a particularly funny or crazy experience of yours - a reckless or adventurous act.
12. Have you travelled - around the country, abroad? Have your trips been mainly related to business or leisure? Which places have impressed you the most and why? Tell us an interesting story from such a trip.
13. Tell us about an exciting dream you remember.
14. Has anything supernatural/magical happened to you? What is your opinion of it?
15. What have you worked as and how (why) did you decide to do that? Are you satisfied with what you achieved in your job/career?
16. And what do you do now? How do you usually spend your days? Do you have any hobbies or interests unique to you?
17. Tell us about your family. How did you meet your spouse? What was your wedding like? What is your favourite memory with them? How was your time different from now?
18. Tell us about your children. What was it like becoming a parent for the first time? What are your fondest memories with your children? What is it like to be a parent - to care, to nurture? What were your children able to take from you and accomplish on their own? What do you wish you could have taught them but failed?
19. How does it feel to have grandchildren? Do you communicate often? What do you teach them? Do you think there are any significant differences between each generation (e.g., between your parents' generation, your generation, your children's generation, and finally, your grandchildren's generation)?
20. What do you consider important in life? What is valuable to you, what do you believe in, what do you condemn? Are these things the same for your community and the people you live with?
21. Show me a craft, an action, or a skill that you have mastered and is your trademark.
22. Show me a craft, an action, a skill that is native to where you are and sets your community apart from others.
23. Is there anything that only you know and want to share now?
24. Is there anything you truly believe in with your entire soul? What is it?
25. Is there anything that you wanted to do in your active years but did not have the time/ability to do back then? Is there anything you still dream of achieving or doing?
26. What do you think you are meant to leave behind?
27. Is there anything you want to say to the people who will be watching/listening to you a 100 years from now? Would you like to give them advice, share something, or wish them something?

 
1. If possible, it is good to schedule a meeting between the narrator and the story collector beforehand (in case the two do not know each other) in order to ensure more immediate and smooth communication between the two.

2. If the narrator deviates from the storyline, do not stop them. Often, digressions can bring out some of the most interesting stories. The collector should support such an unexpected but valuable direction in the narrative and follow it up with additional questions. If there is a topic that the narrator has not finished or failed to retell well, it is a good idea to bring back the question/topic at an appropriate time.

3. Avoid immediate transitions from sad/serious topics to happy/cheerful topics, as there is a risk that the previous emotions will affect the recollection of subsequent memories. It is best if the collector asks questions by combining them into themes based on similar emotional responses rather than asking them in chronological or logical order. It is also a good idea to use more neutral topics in between to ensure smooth emotional transitions.

4. The collector should adapt and be able to select and adjust the questions’ wording and focus to the given narrator and their age, education, marital status, etc.


5. If the narrative steers towards more abstract themes, it is best to prevent significant deviations. To ensure authenticity, it is imperative to follow the line of personal history, i.e., memories and experiences.

6. When filming, we recommend that questions be documented first and additional activities and environment be adjusted to them. However,filming typical activities usually helps the narrator relax and be more open when answering questions. It is even possible for the collector to join the narrator in performing these activities to build a stronger bond of trust and emotional empathy.

7. There are hidden themes in the questions related to values that can be brought out as stand-alone questions: occupation, home, health, lifestyle, social communication, politics, and culture.

8. If there is a family (couple) in which both are willing to be documented, it is appropriate for them to do it together. The narratives usually complement each other or rather clash, thus creating an authentic environment and emotional atmosphere.

9. The narrator may try to recreate their memories in their best light (subconscious censorship). In such cases, it is appropriate for the collector to seek more immediate and informal communication, which can be easily done by delving into the narrator's favourite topic.

10. When working with younger children, it is common for a parent to be present during the documentation. The collector should develop a good enough relationship of mutual trust with the child so that the parent does not need to intervene.

11. In the case of young people aged 14-18, particular emphasis may be placed on questions related to daily life, cultural preferences, emotions (love), etc.

12. In the group over 35, there are often divorced couples. The collector should be able to rephrase questions related to family and children.

13. Most of the questions for 18-35-year-old narrators may be about dreams, plans, and goals - this also indirectly points to their values.

14. A specific common experience for men over 55 is their time in the military - this is often a favourite topic of theirs.

15. With older narrators, it is important to monitor how they feel. If they are showing signs of fatigue, it is better to take a break, which might include the collector sharing something about themselves - this often builds trust and helps with discussing more personal topics.

16. Don't refuse any treats that the hosts may be offering!