Guide to the Use of the Files (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Human Relations Area Files, Inc

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0265800412 ISBN 13: 9780265800416

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

Unlock the tools you need for cross-cultural research with this practical guide.

This concise manual explains how the Human Relations Area Files organize sources, define categories, and provide context, so researchers can use the files effectively without being overwhelmed by the details. It emphasizes clear, manageable steps to plan studies, locate material, and interpret findings.

The book shows how to:

• use the Outline of World Cultures and the OCM to identify relevant data
• check the index, table of contents, and cross-references for useful material
• understand marking, bracketed categories, and context notes to avoid misinterpretation
• design precise, data-focused research problems that the files can answer

What you’ll experience:

• A practical workflow for preparing field trips, experiments, or cross-cultural comparisons
• Guidelines for maintaining context and avoiding bias when using excerpts
• Clear explanations of file structures, category codes, and file slips
• Concrete examples illustrating how to locate information across cultures

Ideal for readers of anthropology, ethnography, or comparative social science who want to make the most of a large, structured data resource—and who value method, precision, and reproducible research results.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0265800412
• ISBN 13: 9780265800416
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 56