Global Outreach Research: Customs & Cultures Search Techniques

SEARCH TECHNIQUES

From the Powell Library Web site: masters.edu/library

Option 1:  A very broad keyword search ("keyword" searches all the metadata, i.e. author, title, subject, table of contents, summary, etc.)

<<united states ethn*>> -- This tells the Discovery search engine to look for records containing the terms "united" AND "states" and because of the use of the * (asterisk), Discovery knows to look for the root word "ethn" and any variation thereafter, so it will look for ethnic, ethnicity, ethnograph, ethnography, ethnographic, ethnographies.  Go ahead, try it here . . .

Search Powell Library Discovery

Option 2:  A focused metadata search -- in this instance the search is limited to the Subject field.  The metadata code used in Discovery is <<su:>>

<<su:united states ethn*>> -- This will limit the search to those records containing these key terms somewhere in the Subject.   Try it here . . .

Search Powell Library Discovery

Option 3: A very focused metadata search --  in this instance the search is limited to the Title field.  The metadata code used in Discovery is <<ti:>>

<<ti:united states ethn*>> -- Here the search is limited to those records containing these key terms somewhere in the Title.  Try it here . . .

Search Powell Library Discovery

Use the same principles described in the fist column to search for specific countries, cultures, ethnicities, and people groups, etc.

To get information on the customs of a country or people group, simply use "customs" as a subject heading.   Add the name of the people group and/or the name of the country or region. For example:

su:native americans customs

For information on the culture of a country or people group, use "ethnology" as either a subject or a keyword.  Add the name of the people group and/or the name of the country or region.  For example:

su:uganda ethnology

buganda ethnology

Every search can be further focused by using the Search Tools in the column on the left of the results list.  For example:

1.  Limit the Year to 2000 to 2017 for materials published during that period. 

2. Limit the Format to Books

3. Limit the Language to English 

4.  If you haven't planned ahead to permit the use or our InterLibrary Loan services, limit the Held by Library to The Master's University so you only get results that are available in and through the Powell Library.

Additional Subject Search Terms:  be sure to add the the name of the people group and/or the name of the country or region to each of these Subject Terms.  You can also identify a common term repeated in several Subject Headings and just use it along with your country or people group.  For example: "italian americans cultur*" will include anthropology cultural, cultural assimilation, and popular culture.

su:czech americanization

Americanization 

Anthropology Cultural 

Cultural assimilation 

Dinning <su:korea* AND kw:dining>

Economic Aspects 

Ethnic identity 

Ethnic relations

Ethnicity

Ethnocentrism

Ethnology

Etiquette

Food <su:italy AND kw:food>

Immigration 

Globalization

Manners and Customs 

Mondialisation 

National characteristics 

Political Aspects

Popular culture

Social life and customs 

Social Science Emigration & Immigration