The Standard Cross-Cultural Sample (SCCS) is a sample of 186 cultures used by scholars engaged in cross-cultural studies.
Origin
Cross-cultural research entails a particular statistical problem, known as Phylogenetic autocorrelation: tests of functional relationships (for example, a test of the hypothesis that societies with pronounced male dominance are more warlike) can be confounded because the samples of cultures are not independent. Traits can be associated not only because they are functionally related, but because they were transmitted together either through cross-cultural borrowing or through descent from a common cultural ancestor.
George Peter Murdock attempted to tackle the problem of autocorrelation by developing a sample of cultures relatively independent from each other—i.e., with relatively weak phylogenetic and cultural diffusion relationships. Murdock began with the twelve hundred or so peoples in his Ethnographic Atlas (Murdock, 1967), dividing them into roughly 200 "sampling provinces" of closely related cultures. Murdock and Douglas R. White chose one particularly well-documented culture from each sampling province to create the SCCS (Murdock and White, 1969). The number of cultures is large and varied enough to provide a sound basis for statistical analysis; the sample includes 186 cultures, ranging from contemporary hunter gatherers (e.g., the Mbuti), to early historic states (e.g., the Romans), to contemporary industrial peoples (e.g., the Russians) (Silverman & Messinger 1997; Mace & Pagel 1994).
Scholars engaging in statistical cross-cultural analysis are encouraged to use the set of cultures in the SCCS, since each new study adds to the number of coded variables capable of being used with already existing variables. By focusing scholarly attention on this sample of 186 cultures, the data have steadily improved in scope and quality. The open access electronic journal World Cultures, founded by White, published by William Divale, and now edited by J. Patrick Gray, functions as the repository of the SCCS, archiving the now nearly 2000 coded variables and publishing a number of papers on cross-cultural methodology. The journal moved in 2006 to the University of California eScholarship Repository.
Murdock also founded the Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) at Yale University in the 1940s. HRAF now maintains all the underlying ethnographic documents used by Murdock and White to code the cultures in the SCCS, in addition to the sources for most of the more-contemporary HRAF entries. The SCCS is selectable as a sample restriction on HRAF search engine for HRAF member organizations. Summaries for each culture are available to the public on the eHRAF World Cultures website.
The dataset is available to view on the Database of Places, Language, Culture, and Environment (D-PLACE).
Cultures in the Standard Cross-Cultural Sample
 Africa |
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 Circum-Mediterranean |
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 East Eurasia | |
 Insular Pacific |
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 North America |
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 South America |
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See also
- Human Relations Area Files
References
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (August 2016) |
- Murdock, George P.; White, Douglas R. (1969). "Standard Cross-Cultural Sample". Ethnology. 8 (4): 329–369. doi:10.2307/3772907.
- "SCCS cases in eHRAF World Cultures -".
- "D-Place -".
- Divale, William. (2000). Pre-Coded Variables for the Standard Cross-Cultural Sample from World Cultures. Volumes I & II. York College, CUNY, Spring 2000.
- Divale, William, Daria Khaltourina and Andrey Korotayev. (2002). A Corrected Version of the Standard Cross-Cultural Sample Database. World Cultures 13(1): 62–98.
- Hoy, Andrew R. (1994). "The Relationship Between Male Dominance and Militarism: Quantitative Tests of Several Theories." World Cultures. 8(2): 40–57
- Mace, Ruth; Pagel, Mark (1994), "The Comparative Method in Anthropology", Current Anthropology, 35 (5): 549–564, doi:10.1086/204317, S2CID 146297584.
- Murdock, George P. (1967). Ethnographic Atlas: A Summary. Pittsburgh: The University of Pittsburgh Press.
- Murdock, George Peter and Douglas R. White. (1969). "Standard Cross-Cultural Sample." Ethnology. 8(4):329–369.(2006 On-line edition) [1]
- Naroll, R. (1965). "Galton's problem: The logic of cross cultural analysis." Social Research. 32: 428–51.
- Silverman, Philip; Messinger, Jacquelyn (1997), The Standard Cross-Cultural Sample, California State University, Bakersfield: Unpublished Manuscript.
- White, Douglas R. (1986) Focused Ethnographic Bibliography for the Standard Cross-Cultural Sample World Cultures 2(1):1–126. (Reprinted 1989 Behavior Science Research 23:1–145 and 2000 by William Divale)
- White, Douglas R. (2007) Standard Cross-Cultural Sample Free Distribution Site (UC Irvine)
- White, Douglas R. and George P. Murdock. (2006). Pinpointing Sheets for the Standard Cross-Cultural Sample
Further reading
- Variables in SCCS
- Ethnographies used to code variables in SCCS
- Resource page for SCCS
- SCCS inventory and UC Irvine library citations
External links
- eHRAF World Cultures website results filtered for SCSS entries
- Pinpointing specifications for each culture
- Public Domain Release 1: Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 1–18
- Public Domain Release 2: Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 19–36
- Public Domain Release 3: Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 37–59
- Public Domain Release 4: Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 55–65
- Public Domain Release 5: Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 66–80
- Public Domain Release 6: Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 81–113
- Public Domain Release 7: Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 114–141
- Public Domain Release 8: Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 142–162
- Public Domain Release 9: Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 163–186
The Standard Cross Cultural Sample SCCS is a sample of 186 cultures used by scholars engaged in cross cultural studies OriginCross cultural research entails a particular statistical problem known as Phylogenetic autocorrelation tests of functional relationships for example a test of the hypothesis that societies with pronounced male dominance are more warlike can be confounded because the samples of cultures are not independent Traits can be associated not only because they are functionally related but because they were transmitted together either through cross cultural borrowing or through descent from a common cultural ancestor George Peter Murdock attempted to tackle the problem of autocorrelation by developing a sample of cultures relatively independent from each other i e with relatively weak phylogenetic and cultural diffusion relationships Murdock began with the twelve hundred or so peoples in his Ethnographic Atlas Murdock 1967 dividing them into roughly 200 sampling provinces of closely related cultures Murdock and Douglas R White chose one particularly well documented culture from each sampling province to create the SCCS Murdock and White 1969 The number of cultures is large and varied enough to provide a sound basis for statistical analysis the sample includes 186 cultures ranging from contemporary hunter gatherers e g the Mbuti to early historic states e g the Romans to contemporary industrial peoples e g the Russians Silverman amp Messinger 1997 Mace amp Pagel 1994 Scholars engaging in statistical cross cultural analysis are encouraged to use the set of cultures in the SCCS since each new study adds to the number of coded variables capable of being used with already existing variables By focusing scholarly attention on this sample of 186 cultures the data have steadily improved in scope and quality The open access electronic journal World Cultures founded by White published by William Divale and now edited by J Patrick Gray functions as the repository of the SCCS archiving the now nearly 2000 coded variables and publishing a number of papers on cross cultural methodology The journal moved in 2006 to the University of California eScholarship Repository Murdock also founded the Human Relations Area Files HRAF at Yale University in the 1940s HRAF now maintains all the underlying ethnographic documents used by Murdock and White to code the cultures in the SCCS in addition to the sources for most of the more contemporary HRAF entries The SCCS is selectable as a sample restriction on HRAF search engine for HRAF member organizations Summaries for each culture are available to the public on the eHRAF World Cultures website The dataset is available to view on the Database of Places Language Culture and Environment D PLACE Cultures in the Standard Cross Cultural SampleAfrica Nama Hottentot Kung San ThongaLoziMbunduSukuBembaNyakyusa Ngonde HadzaLuguruKikuyuGandaMbuti Pygmies Nkundo Mongo BanenTivIgboFonAshanti Twi MendeBambaraTallensiMassaAzandeOtoro NubaShillukMaoMaasaiCircum Mediterranean WolofSonghaiWodaabe FulaniHausaFurKaffaKonsoSomaliAmharaBogoKenuzi NubianTedaTuaregRiffianEgyptians Fellah HebrewsBabyloniansRwala BedouinTurksGheg Albanians RomansBasquesIrishSami Lapps RussiansAbkhazArmeniansGeorgiaKurdEast Eurasia Yurak Samoyed BasseriWest PunjabiGondTodaSantalUttar PradeshBurushoKazakKhalka MongolsLoloLepchaGaroLakherBurmeseLametVietnameseRhade Rade KhmerSiameseSemangNicobareseAndamaneseVeddaTanalaNegeri SembilanAtayalChineseManchuKoreansJapaneseAinuGilyakYukaghirInsular Pacific Javanese Miao BalineseIbanBadjauTorajaTobeloreseAloreseTiwiArandaOrokaivaKapaukuKwomaManusNew IrelandTrobriandersSiuaiTikopiaPentecostMbau FijiansAjieMaoriMarquesansWestern SamoansGilberteseMarshalleseChuukeseYapesePalauansIfugaoNorth America IngalikAleutCopper EskimoMontagnaisMi kmaqSaulteaux Ojibwa SlaveKaska Nahane EyakHaidaBellacoolaTwanaYurokPomoYokutsPaiute Northern KlamathKutenaiGros VentresHidatsaPawneeOmaha Dhegiha HuronCreekNatchezComancheChiricahuaZuniHavasupaiPapagoHuicholAztecPopolucaSouth America QuicheMiskito Mosquito Bribri Talamanca CunaGoajiroHaitiansCalinagoWarrau Warao YanomamoCaribSaramaccaMundurukuCubeo Tucano CayapaJivaroAmahuacaIncaAymaraSirionoNambicuaraTrumaiTimbiraTupinambaBotocudoShavanteAweikomaCayua Guarani LenguaAbiponMapucheTehuelcheYaghanSee alsoHuman Relations Area FilesReferencesThis article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations August 2016 Learn how and when to remove this message Murdock George P White Douglas R 1969 Standard Cross Cultural Sample Ethnology 8 4 329 369 doi 10 2307 3772907 SCCS cases in eHRAF World Cultures D Place Divale William 2000 Pre Coded Variables for the Standard Cross Cultural Sample from World Cultures Volumes I amp II York College CUNY Spring 2000 Divale William Daria Khaltourina and Andrey Korotayev 2002 A Corrected Version of the Standard Cross Cultural Sample Database World Cultures 13 1 62 98 Hoy Andrew R 1994 The Relationship Between Male Dominance and Militarism Quantitative Tests of Several Theories World Cultures 8 2 40 57 Mace Ruth Pagel Mark 1994 The Comparative Method in Anthropology Current Anthropology 35 5 549 564 doi 10 1086 204317 S2CID 146297584 Murdock George P 1967 Ethnographic Atlas A Summary Pittsburgh The University of Pittsburgh Press Murdock George Peter and Douglas R White 1969 Standard Cross Cultural Sample Ethnology 8 4 329 369 2006 On line edition 1 Naroll R 1965 Galton s problem The logic of cross cultural analysis Social Research 32 428 51 Silverman Philip Messinger Jacquelyn 1997 The Standard Cross Cultural Sample California State University Bakersfield Unpublished Manuscript White Douglas R 1986 Focused Ethnographic Bibliography for the Standard Cross Cultural Sample World Cultures 2 1 1 126 Reprinted 1989 Behavior Science Research 23 1 145 and 2000 by William Divale White Douglas R 2007 Standard Cross Cultural Sample Free Distribution Site UC Irvine White Douglas R and George P Murdock 2006 Pinpointing Sheets for the Standard Cross Cultural SampleFurther readingVariables in SCCS Ethnographies used to code variables in SCCS Resource page for SCCS SCCS inventory and UC Irvine library citationsExternal linkseHRAF World Cultures website results filtered for SCSS entriesPinpointing specifications for each culturePublic Domain Release 1 Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 1 18 Public Domain Release 2 Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 19 36 Public Domain Release 3 Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 37 59 Public Domain Release 4 Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 55 65 Public Domain Release 5 Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 66 80 Public Domain Release 6 Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 81 113 Public Domain Release 7 Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 114 141 Public Domain Release 8 Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 142 162 Public Domain Release 9 Exact Pinpointing for societies SCCS 163 186
