Informação, História e memória: a constituição social da informação em relatos orais

Abstract

This qualitative study aims to identify, characterize and analyze the processes of social construction of the Information and knowledge in oral accounts, inagreement with the Methodology of Oral History and Information Science. We seek to highlight the potential of the information contained in the data stored in the Programs of Oral History, represented, in this study, by two researchcenters; the Documention and Research Center CPDOC of the Fundation Getúlio Vargas Rio de Janeiro and the Program of Oral History Study Center of Minas Gerais /Fafich/UFMG. More specific objectives lay on identifying the perspective of the information and knowledge that guide theformation of the data collection of the anlyzed programs, and understanding the function of Orality in the process of social constitution of the information and knowledge. In order to achieve such purposes, researchers and founders of theProgram of Oral History Study Center of Minas Gerais /Fafich/UFMG and of the CPDOC/FGV/RJ were extensively interviewed, and beside that, wide bibliographical researches were made. The data collection was carried out through thematic interviews made in agreement with the qualitativemethodology of oral history. This way, under the extent of the Information Science, it was concluded that the potential of information and knowledge present in the data of the Programs of Oral History was of extreme relevance in the understanding of the contemporary reality, as long as the difusion and restitution of this information and knowledge reach not only the academic world but the society as a whole, thus stimulating the reflection on social, economical, political and cultural phenomena. As for the function of orality in the social constitution of the information and knowledge, it can be concluded that it stands as the principle of the process of information. Its universality and democratic character allows and helps man´s inclusion as a constituent body of his historyand path. Therefore it needs and deserves to be recognized as a fundamental tool for man´s recognition in his social universe.