Illnesses and Naming Practices

This image of an Advanced Search in the eHRAF World Cultures database shows a combination of two clauses with subjects (called OCMs). HRAF-specific subjects such as “Personal Names” (OCM 551) or “Naming” (OCM 553) can be combined with an OCM subject about illness. The advantage of an OCM subject search is that it retrieves a variety of ethnographic texts with information on the topic without specific words like naming or illness.

Advanced Search with OCM subjects on naming practices and illnesses

Steps in Using OCM subjects in an eHRAF Advanced Search

Step 1. Log on to eHRAF World Cultures (if prompted for authentication, email hraf@yale.edu for a temporary log-in). Click the Advanced Search tab.

Step 2. Find OCM subject(s) for naming practices
Click Add Subjects –use the A-Z Index, Major Subjects or OCM Code. Click on the 3- or 4 digit number (OCM 551 or 553) to open the subject description (this helps in deciding whether a subject “matches” ones topic). To add a subject to the menu click the box to the left of the subject name and then Add Subject.

Hint! Topics Covered at the HRAF’s home page shows the entire list of OCM subject that are indexed and searchable in eHRAF. Write down the 3- and 4 digit numbers and then use the OCM Code tab to find the numbers associated with the subjects.

Step 3. Click + in lower right side to add another set of search terms.

Step 4. Find OCM subject(s) for illness (e.g. OCM 753)
follow instructions in step 2.

Step 5. Set Boolean operators!

AND to narrow the search
OR to expand the search
(see green and red circle in image above)

Step 6. Click Search to launch a search across cultures, regions, and even subsistence types for information on naming practices and theory of disease in the ethnographic texts of eHRAF World Cultures.

An alternative to using only OCM subjects is a “combo” search with OCM subjects and/or keywords. The advantage of a combo search is that increases the search results but doesn’t necessarily find anymore relevant information than an OCM subject search that doesn’t use keywords.

Steps in Using a combination of OCM subjects and/or keywords in an eHRAF Advanced Search

Advanced Search with OCM subjects and keywords on naming practices and sickness

Step 1. Log on to eHRAF World Cultures (if prompted for authentication, email hraf@yale.edu for a temporary log-in). Click the Advanced Search tab.

Step 2. Find OCM subjects for naming practices
Click Add Subjects –use the A-Z Index, Major Subjects or OCM Code. Click on the 3- or 4 digit number (OCM 551 or 553) to open the subject description (this helps in deciding whether a subject “matches” ones topic). To add a subject to the menu click the box to the left of the subject name and then Add Subject.

Step 3. Click + in lower right side to add another set of search terms.

Step 4. Find OCM subjects for illness (e.g. OCM 753)
follow instructions in step 2.

Step 5. Refine a search by using truncated keywords (e.g., illness* sickness* disease* etc.).
Caution! An OCM subject with keywords can refine, and if several words are used, can even enhance a search. However, there is a downside to searching with keywords as it also limits the power of an OCM subject search. An OCM subject search without keywords finds passages of texts that are about the topic (e.g. illness), but use different words to describe and refer to it.

Step 6. Set Boolean operators!
AND to narrow the search
OR to expand the search
(see green and red circle in image above)

Step 7. Click Search to launch a search across cultures, regions, and even subsistence types for information on naming practices and theory of disease in the ethnographic texts of eHRAF World Cultures.

Contact hraf@yale.edu for a current log-in. Briefly describe your research topic so we can provide helpful tips.