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Myth, Ritual, Symbol, and Religion -- Dr. Karen Dalke

The purpose of this guide is familiarize you with the Human Relations Area File (HRAF), both in microfiche and electronic format. Below is detailed information on how to use the HRAF

Note that aside from being familiar with HRAF, Dr. Dalke would also like you to be familiar with Library databases that provide access to scholarly journal articles in the field of anthropology (Ethos, American Anthropologist, Cultural Anthropology etc.). To learn more about the appropriate databases and to connect directly to them see the anthropology subject page at http://www.uwgb.edu/Library/databases/anthropology.html. If you have any questions about using Library resources for this, or any other assignment connect to the Research Assistance page at http://www.uwgb.edu/Library/research/assistance.html to find out how to contact a reference librarian.

Human Relations Area Files (HRAF)

The Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) contain books, periodical articles, manuscripts, and dissertations and theses on cultures of the world. They are a valuable research tool for archaeologists, anthropologists and sociologists. Researchers in geography, ethnomusicology, fine arts, and ethnobotany may also find relevant sources in this database. HRAF contains nearly one million pages of information on the cultures of the world -- past and present. The long-range goal of the HRAF project is to compile most of the material that deals with cultural anthropology and ethnography. HRAF is a developing collection and is NOT complete.

HRAF now comes in two formats:

  1. Microfiche - for those sources added before 1994.

  2. Web (eHRAF) - for those sources added 1994 and after.

The data in both formats has been analyzed and annotated according to a system of 888 different categories of cultural activities and processes.

How to find information in HRAF:

  1. Using the Outline of World Cultures (found in carrel 3c next to the HRAF fiche cabinet on the 3rd floor) locate the OWC code for your geographic region or cultural group. 

    • The index can help you determine the correct OWC code. 

    • Then consult the main body of the guide for a description of the geographic region or cultural group and to see if anything has been added to HRAF for that group. 

    • Since HRAF is an on going project not all of the groups have information written about them yet. 

    • For those groups that there is something for you will find a check mark 4 next to the name in the outline. A 4 indicates that the information can be found on microfilm and a 4+ehraf indicates that it is on the web.

  2. Using the Outline of Cultural Materials (found in carrel 3C next to the HRAF fiche cabinet on the 3rd floor) locate the OCM code for your topic. 

    • The index can help you determine the correct category number for your topic. 

    • Then consult the main body of the guide for a description of the category and cross-references to other topics.

SAMPLE:

Entry from the Outline of World Cultures

Entry from the Outline of Cultural Materials

How to use the Microfiche: (for those OWC codes that have a checkmark next to them.)

  1. Determine the OWC code and OCM code following the steps above.

  2. Go to the HRAF microfiche cabinets behind the reference desk on the third floor. The fiche are arranged in the cabinets by OWC code. 

  3. Locate the section for your region or culture.

  4. Within the set of fiche for your region or culture, find the category range for the specific cultural aspect or activity in which you are interested. This range will be in the top left hand corner of the individual fiche. (See sample below) 

  5. To determine if that cultural aspect or activity is on that fiche look for the large numbers within the pages that are on that particular fiche. If the OCM code that you need is one of the numbers that shows on the fiche then there is something written on that topic, if not then nothing has been written yet on that topic for that region or group. (Remember that if the OWC code had a 4+ehraf next to it you will want to also consult the CD-ROM version. See "How to use the CD-ROM:" for further instructions.

  6. Remove the fiche with your category number on it and use one of the nearby microfiche readers to read the fiche. You will want to start at your OCM code on the fiche and stop at the next OCM code.

    SAMPLE:

OCM # OWC #

How to use the Web Version: (for those OWC codes that have +ehraf next to them.)

  1. Connect to eHRAF from the list of online databases available on the Library's web site or by going directly to HRAF - Ethnography (eHRAF).

  2. Select one of the many searching options:

    • Basic Searches: Single word and phrase searches throughout the eHRAF

    • Browse Subjects: Search by OCM code or subject words.

    • Browse Cultures: List of cultures in eHRAF

    • Boolean Searches: Combinations of two or three words or phrases within different structural elements.

    • Proximity Searches: Co-occurence of two or three words or phrases

    • Guides to the Files: Provides brief cultural summaries and evaluations of HRAF files.

    • Citation Search: Finds author name, title, place coverage, main OCM subject codes, etc. for the eHRAF documents. 

  3. Follow the directions on the search screen for entering your search.

  4. Click on search

  5. Search results will appear. Follow the hyperlinks to see the text of a particular item. 

How to cite a document from HRAF:

Since HRAF contains information usually first published elsewhere, you need to use a special citation style.

  1. Find the full citation to the document(s) you use in the section of the set labeled 111. If the culture group was FA21, then you would need to find the fiche for that group that contained the section 111.

  2. Use any citation style you choose.

  3. Add at the end of the citation: (Located in the HRAF Archive.)