Sarah Beaven, Djillali Benouar, Mihir Bhatt, Terry Gibson and Lori Peek
This conversation presents the reflections from five prominent disaster scholars and practitioners on the opportunities and challenges associated with research following disasters…
Abstract
Purpose
This conversation presents the reflections from five prominent disaster scholars and practitioners on the opportunities and challenges associated with research following disasters and explores the importance of ethics in disaster research.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on the conversations that took place on Disasters: Deconstructed Podcast livestream on the 11th of June 2021.
Findings
The prominent themes in this conversation include ethical approaches to research, how we–as disaster researchers and practitioners–collaborate, engage, and cooperate, and whose voices are centred in a post-disaster research context.
Originality/value
The conversation contributes to ongoing discussions around the conduct and practice of disaster research.
Details
Keywords
Rachel Marie Adams, Candace Evans, Amy Wolkin, Tracy Thomas and Lori Peek
Social vulnerability in the context of disaster management refers to the sociodemographic characteristics of a population and the physical, social, economic, and environmental…
Abstract
Purpose
Social vulnerability in the context of disaster management refers to the sociodemographic characteristics of a population and the physical, social, economic, and environmental factors that increase their susceptibility to adverse disaster outcomes and capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist, and recover from disaster events. Because disasters do not impact people equally, researchers, public health practitioners, and emergency managers need training to meet the complex needs of vulnerable populations.
Design/methodology/approach
To address gaps in current education, the CONVERGE initiative, headquartered at the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder, developed the Social Vulnerability and Disasters Training Module. This free online course draws on decades of research to examine the factors that influence social vulnerability to disasters. Examples of studies and evidence-based programs are included to illuminate common methods for studying social vulnerability and ways that research can guide practice. To evaluate the module, all trainees completed a pre- and post-training questionnaire.
Findings
Between July 2019 and September 2021, 1,089 people completed the module. Wilcoxon signed rank tests demonstrated a significant perceived increase in self-rated knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA). Students, members of historically underrepresented populations, and those new to or less experienced in the field, had the greatest perceived increase.
Practical implications
This training module can help participants understand the specific needs of socially vulnerable populations to help reduce human suffering from disasters.
Originality/value
This article describes a novel web-based training and offers evaluation data showing how it can help educate a broad hazards and disaster workforce on an important topic for disaster management.
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Cynthia Szymanski Sunal and Julianne M. Coleman
An investigation of very young children’s perceptions of a natural disaster, a tornado, used a stratified random sample of 40 children, aged 4-5 years, from a population of 108 in…
Abstract
An investigation of very young children’s perceptions of a natural disaster, a tornado, used a stratified random sample of 40 children, aged 4-5 years, from a population of 108 in ten classes. The study also investigated a research protocol for ascertaining prior knowledge through children’s responses: physical representation, drawing responses, and retelling of personal stories through dictating captions for drawings. Two data sets were taken soon after the tornado. The children physically represented what happens in a tornado and how one takes shelter. Drawings increased in complexity by the second data set. Children’s stories included personal experiences: houses lost or damaged, being scared, friends missing, and wanting a significant other. Researchers can use a variety of methods to investigate very young children’s prior knowledge. An implication is that disaster education has a role in early social studies education promoting meaningful understanding by children of dangers posed, protecting oneself, and coping with the aftermath. Such a role is increasingly important as recent major U.S. disasters have impacted large numbers of citizens including our very young students. Further research especially with very young children in the area of disaster and hazards education is warranted in the field of social studies education.
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Kaira Zoe Alburo-Cañete, Nnenia Campbell, Shefali Juneja Lakhina, Loïc Le Dé and María N. Rodríguez Alarcón
This conversation presents the reflections from four inspirational early career disaster scholars on the opportunities and challenges associated with post-disaster research and…
Abstract
Purpose
This conversation presents the reflections from four inspirational early career disaster scholars on the opportunities and challenges associated with post-disaster research and disaster studies in general.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on the conversations that took place on Disasters: Deconstructed Podcast livestream on the 15th September 2021.
Findings
The prominent themes in this conversation include representation, power imbalances and research extractivism and reciprocity.
Originality/value
The conversation contributes to the ongoing discussions around how research is conducted immediately following disasters.
Details
Keywords
Bob Alexander, Maureen Fordham, Rohit Jigyasu, Mayfourth Luneta and Ben Wisner
This conversation presents the reflections from five prominent disaster scholars and practitioners on the purpose of Radix – the Radical Disaster Interpretations network – as the…
Abstract
Purpose
This conversation presents the reflections from five prominent disaster scholars and practitioners on the purpose of Radix – the Radical Disaster Interpretations network – as the authors celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on the conversations that took place on Disasters: Deconstructed Podcast livestream on the 13th October 2021.
Findings
The conversation reflects on personal and professional journeys in disaster studies over the past 20 years and on what needs changing in order to make disaster interpretations more radical.
Originality/value
The conversation contributes to the ongoing discussions around explorations of radical pathways for understanding and preventing disasters.