Anna Prokhorova
Fellow 2024/2025
Sociology/Political Sciences
National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
Open Society University Network/CEU Institute of Advanced Study, Budapest-Ukraine
anna.prokhorova@ukma.edu.ua
Bio
Anna Prokhorova is a sociologist whose research interests lie at the intersection of sociology and oral history. She has 14 years of experience conducting research based on qualitative sociological methodology. Most of the projects she has participated in or managed focus on sensitive research related to traumatic experiences, including the Holocaust, the Revolution of Dignity, the Russian-Ukrainian war, and the needs of people living with HIV or consuming injection narcotic substances. The in-depth interview serves as the primary research tool in these studies, allowing her to develop expertise in working with sensitive topics. Her experience includes methodological development, conducting in-depth interviews using the approach of active non-critical listening, and analyzing the collected data.
For the past 10 years, Prokhorova has been a Senior Lecturer at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Her main courses include “Research of Traumatic and Sensitive Experiences in Sociology,” “Oral History for Sociologists,” “Social Structure of Society,” and “Sociological Social Psychology of Inequality.”
In addition to her academic and research activities, she has 12 years of experience working with non-governmental research and cultural organizations as a project manager in cultural, publishing, and archival projects. She has also spent four years working as a fundraiser. This combination of activities has allowed her to develop strong analytical thinking, responsibility, time management skills, the ability to work within deadlines, and multitasking abilities.
Oral History Longitudinal Interviews with Participants of the Most Turning Historical Events in Ukraine
The proposed longitudinal study explores the evolving experiences of individuals who have witnessed or participated in key historical events in Ukraine over the past decade. Unlike traditional sociological research, which relies on probability samples to track societal trends, oral history focuses on individuals whose personal experiences provide deep insights into significant historical moments.
This study is unique in that many Ukrainians have been involved in multiple historical events, from the Revolution of Dignity (2013–2014) to the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war (2014) and the full-scale invasion (2022). These individuals offer a rare opportunity for longitudinal oral history research, where their perspectives on past events can be revisited years later while also capturing their roles in subsequent transformative moments.
The project builds on previous research in which over 400 in-depth interviews were collected from Maidan participants and 100 from those involved in the Russian-Ukrainian war since 2014. Many of these individuals are now active in the ongoing war, either on the frontlines or in volunteer efforts. Conducting follow-up interviews with them will provide valuable insights into their life trajectories while benefiting from pre-established trust between interviewer and participant.
As part of this study, up to 15 longitudinal interviews will be conducted with key individuals from these historical events. The collected testimonies will be archived at the oral history laboratory of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Additionally, at least one methodological article will be published, examining the distinctive aspects of this approach in oral history research.