eHRAF World Cultures

You can search in eHRAF World Cultures for Cultures, Subjects, or Documents.

Search tips:

• Use truncation (*) to get better results. For example, music* returns texts that contain music, musical, or musician.
• Use double quotes around multiple words to search an exact phrase – i.e “body paint”
• Try to use an OCM number in your search for best results.
• These documents are indexed by the text itself, which may not use the current or most "politically correct" terms.
• PRACTICE!  The more you use eHRAF, the more proficient you will become.

To do a basic search eHRAF, click on the search tab at the top of the eHRAF World Cultures home page. Search for terms or phrases and the database will automatically match your search with the cultures and subjects indexed in the database and in the document text.

eHRAF Search – uses HRAF’s OWC and OCM subject indexing

Word Search – searches only for text in the eHRAF documents that match your search terms or phrases. It does not use eHRAF's subject and culture indexing. Usually, the more specific your search terms are the more likely a plain word search will be successful.  It is best not to use culture names and regions as they are not likely to be repeated in the text.

Your Basic search will return a list of Results Per Culture.  Select a culture to view the Paragraph Results.  Click the “go to paragraph in page” button to view the full-text, then use the Table of Contents on the left to navigate the document.

eHRAF’s Advanced Search incorporates two HRAF-specific and well-developed classification systems — Outline of World Cultures and Outline of Cultural Materials. If the OWC culture names and OCM subject categories, show up as various menu forms in the “ADD” functions, are used (cleverly) in combination with the Boolean functions (e.g., AND, OR, NOT) and with keywords, then this retrieves, in-detailed described cultural activities at the paragraph-level.

Advanced search example on Hunting Whales with Weapons: http://0-hraf.yale.edu.patris.apu.edu/hunting-whales-weapons/

You can browse in eHRAF World Cultures for specific Cultures.

• Click Browse Cultures.

• Enter the name of a culture into the Filter Index search bar. For example, you can type in Hmong.

You will see a list of cultural groups that correspond to the descriptor you entered.

This tutorial is adapted from UC Merced http://gots.ucmerced.edu/tutorials/view_tutorial_only/42#.

You can browse various Subjects across cultures.

• Click on Browse Subjects at the top of the screen.

• In the Filter Index search bar, enter a subject that interests you. For example, table manners.

Relevant search results will appear below the Filter Index.

This tutorial is adapted from UC Merced http://gots.ucmerced.edu/tutorials/view_tutorial_only/42#.

When searching under Browse Cultures:

• Click on Culture Summary to learn more about the group.
• Click on Collection Description to see a list of relevant holdings.
• Click on Collection Documents to see a list of relevant articles and documents.

When searching under Browse Subjects:

• Click on Subject Description for information about the subject.
• Click on Related Documents for a list of relevant documents that cover a variety of cultures.

This tutorial is adapted from UC Merced http://gots.ucmerced.edu/tutorials/view_tutorial_only/42#.

To read documents related to a culture, click on Collection Documents in the culture's listing, and select the resource you would like to cite. 

Publication information will be listed. Then select Cite at the bottom to get the citation in the format you need.

This tutorial is adapted from UC Merced http://gots.ucmerced.edu/tutorials/view_tutorial_only/42#.

• Click on the name of an article that interests you.
• To the left of the publication information, click on Body underneath the Table of Contents heading to see options.
• Then select the section you would like to read.

You can also click on the drop-down menu called Page List to the right of the publication list to select individual pages. 

This tutorial is adapted from UC Merced http://gots.ucmerced.edu/tutorials/view_tutorial_only/42#.

You may print or email selected paragraph results from either Paragraph Results or from the Whole Document View.

Paragraph Results:

1. After you have selected the results you want to print or email from the Record Results by checking or unchecking the desired records, click on Print Selected Records or Email Selected Records.

2. The form that comes up is essentially the same for print or email except that email requires you to insert an email address and a subject line. The default is that the selected records from the first ten results page will print or email. You can change to the first 10 selected records by clicking on the circle to the left of the second choice.

3. A drop-down list will display the sets of records that can be chosen. Usually, this will be the first 10, the second 10 etc.

4. Click the box to the left of "Include Search Query" if you want a record of what your search was.

5. Choose the fields you wish to have on your printed results or emailed results or choose Click Next.

6. Review the Print or Email Preview. Click Print or Email to execute print or email or go Back to change.

Whole Document View:

1. The paragraph(s) with your matches will be checked in the Whole Document View.

2. If you wish to print or email just those paragraph(s), click on Print Selected Records or Email Selected Records. If you want other paragraphs, go to step 3 or 4.

3. To add selected additional paragraphs, click on the checkbox to the left of the paragraph. (Note: These selections will not be added to your results list.) To deselect a paragraph as a match click the checkbox to uncheck. (Note: Deselection here will uncheck the same paragraph from your Paragraph Results page.)

4. To print the whole page, click on Select All and click on Print Selected Records or Email Selected Records.

5. The Configure Print and Configure Email forms are essentially the same except that email form requires you to insert an email address. The default setting specifies that the selected records from the first ten results page will print or email. You can change to the first 10 selected records by clicking on the circle to the left of the second choice.

6. A drop-down list will display the sets of records that can be chosen. Usually, this will be the first 10, the second 10 etc.

7. Click the box to the left of "Include Search Query" if you want a record of what your search was.

8. Choose the fields you wish to have on your printed results or emailed results. Select All will give you all the fields.

9. Click Next

10. Review the Print [or Email] Preview. Click Print or Email to execute print or email or go Back to change.