Cross-Cultural Comparison with the 

eHRAF World Cultures Database
50-Minute Lab Group Assignment

Assignment #3 (Group)

Due: March 22

by Bruce Freeman
 Department of Anthropology, University of Calgary, Canada

Editor's Note: The following 50-Minute eHRAF lab assignment is part of a set of individual and group assignments for the course "Methods and Analysis for Anthropology (ANTH 411.01). Click here if you would like to see the syllabus.

1. In the computer lab form groups of two or three students. 

2. In your groups, use the eHRAF World Cultures database to browse through the OCM Subjects/Codes and select two that your group considers might be associated (i.e., "Alcoholic Beverages" (OCM 273) and "Offences against the Person" (OCM 683).

3. Using eHRAF World Cultures database each group member is to select one culture in a different HRAF region than other members. Ensure that both selected OCM Subjects appear in the text of at least one document for that culture.

4. Each group member is to review the subject-indexed ethnographic text and succinctly summarize it in written form (one page, 250 words):

a. The culture

b. The context in which the OCM subjects appear in the document(s)

c. The association (if any) among the OCM subjects

5. Working with your group members, develop a hypothesis using the two subject codes that could be investigated further cross-culturally using the eHRAF database. Explain the hypothesized relationship among the OCM subjects. Include this one-page (250 word) response with the individual reports.

• Your submission must be typed and include a cover page and reference list. Student names should appear only on the cover page.

•  All group members receive the same grade for this assignment.
  

URLs for Methods and Analysis for Anthropology (ANTH 411.01)

Part I:  Syllabus (www.yale.edu/hraf/methods_analysis_syllabus.htm)
 

Part II: Tentative Class and Reading Schedule (www.yale.edu/hraf/methods_analysis_schedule.htm)
 
Part III: Test Study Questions (www.yale.edu/hraf/methods_analysis_studyquestions.htm)
  

Part IV: Individual and Group Assignments (www.yale.edu/hraf/methods_analysis_assignments.htm)
 

Part V: Course Journal (www.yale.edu/hraf/methods_analysis_coursejournal.htm)