Introduction

Teaching eHRAF is an interdisciplinary teaching resource aimed at providing instructors with ideas about how to use the eHRAF World Cultures and eHRAF Archaeology online databases in their curricula. The sample syllabi focus on general anthropology, general archaeology, medical anthropology, and research methods across all levels. Teaching eHRAF has grown into a place of exchange for teaching materials across many disciplines. We encourage professors and instructors to submit syllabi and welcome diversity in style, theme, and level of difficulty.

The assignments in Teaching eHRAF generally require access to the eHRAF World Cultures and/or Archaeology databases to complete. If your institution is not yet a member, consider asking your library to request a trial.

eHRAF Workbooks

Browse our collection of workbook activities for eHRAF World Cultures and eHRAF Archaeology. Designed to complement any textbook or anthropology curriculum, eHRAF Workbook activities are presented as PowerPoint slideshows that instructors can modify, share, and upload to Blackboard, Canvas, Moodle, or a similar learning management system.

Teaching Online

Learn more about teaching online with HRAF resources in Teaching Online.

Teaching eHRAF Key

Level I —student reads passage of text in eHRAF and answers fixed questions (answer provided to instructors), may involve some directed searches in eHRAF.
Level II—strategic searching in eHRAF with some direction.
Level III—research oriented exercises involving eHRAF and other research materials; moderately structured with some direction.
Level IV—more independent development of research and search strategies.

Samples

Probability Sample Files (PSF): 60 largely preindustrial societies that meet certain data quality controls, one randomly chosen from each culture area.
Simple Random Sample (SRS): currently 28 societies randomly chosen from a compiled list of over 8 cross-cultural samples. (See also: SRS in eHRAF Archaeology)
Standard Cross-Cultural Sample (SCCS): consists of 186 anthropologically described societies pinpointed in time and space.
Ethnographic Atlas (EA): contains over 1264 societies and intended to be an “exhaustive” list of the world’s described societies. eHRAF currently contains over 200 of these societies.

Testimonials

You can find testimonials from educators and researchers who use eHRAF here.

Supplemental guides and information

Lists of topics and cultures covered in eHRAF World Cultures and traditions covered in eHRAF Archaeology in HTML, PDF and Excel format(s) can be found at Reference Materials.

Contributors List

Sonya Atalay, Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
Francine Barone, Human Relations Area Files at Yale University, New Haven, CT
Ryan O. Begley, Human Relations Area Files, New Haven, CT, USA
Vicki Bentley-Condit, Department of Anthropology, Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA, USA
Christiane M. Cunnar, Human Relations Area Files, Inc. (HRAF) at Yale University,  New Haven, CT, USA
William Divale, Department of Social Sciences, York College (CUNY), Jamaica, NY, USA
Carol R. Ember. Human Relations Area Files, Inc. (HRAF) at Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
Douglas A. Feldman , Department of Anthropology, The College at Brockport, State University of New York, Brockport, NY , USA
Bruce Freeman, Department of Anthropology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Brad R. Huber, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA
Sara E. Johnson, Department of Anthropology, California State University, Fullerton, CA, USA
Kathryn Koziol, Department of Anthropology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
Howard Kress, Department of Anthropology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
Jerome M. Levi, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Carleton College, Northfield, MN, USA
Matthew Longcore, Human Relations Area Files at Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA and University of Connecticut, Stamford, CT, USA
Thomas W. Miller, Kittatinny Regional High School, Newton, NJ, USA
John Millhauser, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
Brian Mooney,  Department of Social Sciences, York College (CUNY), Jamaica, NY, USA
Dianna Shandy, Department of Anthropology, Macalester College, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Ian Skoggard, Human Relations Area Files, Inc. (HRAF) at Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
Dan Strouthes, Department of Geography and Anthropology, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, WI, USA
Nicola B. Tannenbaum, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA