Purdue University Purdue e-Pubs Open Access Dissertations Theses and Dissertations Winter 2015 The seu of oral history and narrative research in broadening the historical foundation of the agricultural communication field Natalie L Federer Purdue University Follow this and additional works at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_dissertations Part of the Agriculture Commons, Communication Commons, and the History Commons Recommended Citation Federer, Natalie L, "The use of oral history and narrative research in broadening the historical foundation of the agricultural communication field" (2015). Open Access Dissertations. 453. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_dissertations/453 This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact [email protected] for additional information. *UDGXDWH6FKRRO)RUP 5HYLVHG 385'8(81,9(56,7< *5$'8$7(6&+22/ 7KHVLV'LVVHUWDWLRQ$FFHSWDQFH 7KLVLVWRFHUWLI\WKDWWKHWKHVLVGLVVHUWDWLRQSUHSDUHG %\ 1DWDOLH )HGHUHU (QWLWOHG 7+( 86( 2) 25$/ +,6725< $1' 1$55$7,9( 5(6($5&+ ,1 %52$'(1,1* 7+( +,6725,&$/ )281'$7,21 2) 7+( $*5,&8/785$/ &20081,&$7,21 ),(/' 'RFWRU RI 3KLORVRSK\ )RUWKHGHJUHHRI ,VDSSURYHGE\WKHILQDOH[DPLQLQJFRPPLWWHH .DWKU\Q 2UYLV 6XVDQ &XUWLV $OOHQ 7DOEHUW $ELJDLO %RUURQ To the best of my knowledge and as understood by the student in the Thesis/Dissertation Agreement, Publication Delay, and Certification/Disclaimer (Graduate School Form 32), this thesis/dissertation adheres to the provisions of Purdue University’s “Policy on Integrity in Research” and the use of copyrighted material. .DWKU\Q 2UYLV $SSURYHGE\0DMRU3URIHVVRU V BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB $SSURYHGE\5RJHU 7RUPRHKOHQ +HDGRIWKH'HSDUWPHQW*UDGXDWH3URJUDP 'DWH THE USE OF ORAL HISTORY AND NARRATIVE RESEARCH IN BROADENING THE HISTORICAL FOUNDATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATION FIELD A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Purdue University by Natalie L. Federer In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy May 2015 Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana ii To my two sons, Kale and Tanner iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First off to my children, Kale and Tanner, who have been understanding of my time and dedication to writing and fulfilling my Ph.D. requirements while juggling my time with building Legos, traveling to museums to see dinosaurs, and heading to historical battlefields. You both provided me with great inspiration to keep pressing on. I truly hope that I make you proud! I would like to acknowledge the following individuals who provided me with unwavering support and encouragement which includes my dearest friends: Matt, Megan, Kevin, Mike, and Cindy. You all provided great and consistent support; I would be lost without all of you. To those in my family who supported my educational journey by simply asking me about my schooling, writing, and classes. That you cared enough to ask; Kate, Robert, Ed, Jane, Leonard, and Merna. To my parents, Tasha, Sarah, and Ben, thank you for the kind words of encouragement and support. To my committee, who allowed me to melt down at times, but who always provided me with encouragement, advice, and guidance: Dr. Orvis, Dr. Curtis, Dr. Borron, and Dr. Talbert. Also to Jane, Jayne, Dr. Tucker, Dr. Ellis, and others who checked in on me and my work over the past couple of years, and always provided me iv with kinds words of encouragement. And to a number of my fellow Educators and co- workers who would inquire about my progress and listen to me whine from time to time. Last but not least, to those at the Agricultural Communication Documentation Center, who aided me with my research, and to those who participated in the interviews. I am ever so grateful to you for allowing me to interview you and share your valuable insights and perspectives with others. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. ix ABSTRACT .........................................................................................................................x CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................1 1.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................1 1.2 Significance of Study ................................................................................................4 1.3 Purpose of Study .......................................................................................................6 1.4 Objectives ..................................................................................................................7 1.5 Arriving at Oral History and Historical Perspective .................................................8 1.6 Definition of Terms: Defining Oral History and Other Related Terms ..................11 1.7 Oral History and Historical Background: What It Is and How It Came to Be ........16 1.8 Assumptions and Limitations ..................................................................................22 1.9 Researcher Bias .......................................................................................................23 1.10 Agricultural Communication Field Today ............................................................26 CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ...........................................................................28 2.1 Introduction to Literature Review ...........................................................................28 2.2 Framework ...............................................................................................................28 2.3 How Do We Read Historical Sources? ...................................................................30 2.4 Agricultural Communication Professional Historical Literature ............................32 2.5 Agricultural Communication Academic History ....................................................36 2.6 Oral History, Memory, and Narrative Research ......................................................39 2.7 Constructivism and Interview Literature .................................................................46 2.8 Narrative Research and Inquiry ...............................................................................48 vi Page 2.9 Technology and Memory ........................................................................................50 2.10 Agricultural Communication and Women ............................................................52 2.11 The Role of the Archivist and Dust .......................................................................55 2.12 Conclusion .............................................................................................................57 CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY .....................................................................................58 3.1 Introduction to Methodology ...................................................................................58 3.2 Research Design ......................................................................................................59 3.3 Project Overview .....................................................................................................61 3.4 Sampling ..................................................................................................................64 3.5 Interview Process ....................................................................................................66 3.6 Data Analysis Section: Transcriptions ....................................................................68 3.7 Coding .....................................................................................................................69 3.8 Initial Coding Process .............................................................................................71 3.9 Analysis of Themes .................................................................................................74 3.10 Narrative Research ................................................................................................74 3.11 Limitations .............................................................................................................77 3.12 Validity and Reliability of Oral History and Narrative Research .........................80 3.13 Institutional Review Board ....................................................................................83 3.14 Role of the Researcher ..........................................................................................83 3.15 Research Bias ........................................................................................................86 CHAPTER 4. RESULTS ...................................................................................................87 4.1 Overview of Data ....................................................................................................87 4.2 Participant Overview ...............................................................................................88 4.3 Themes ....................................................................................................................89 4.4 Theme: Womens Experience is Missing in the Agricultural Communication Historical Narrative .................................................................................................92 4.4.1 Women in the Field: Evanss Interview ...........................................................93