Citation

Quarantelli EL. Int. J. Mass Emerg. Disasters 1993; 11(1): 15-39.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, International Sociological Association, International Research Committee on Disasters)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article focuses on what can and cannot be done in taking research findings and applying them to obtain better disaster planning and managing. Five general themes are discussed. (1) Social science disaster research is of substantial value even though much of it does not fit the classic scientific research model. We illustrate this by noting the conceptual, instrumental, and symbolic uses of research findings. (2) The application of research results is partly dependent on which disaster problem is being focused on. This is because there are different groups and activities involved in the mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery phases or stages of disasters. (3) There is a basic difference between planning for a crisis and managing it. Research and research use will differ depending on whether the strategies of planning or the tactics of managing are being addressed. (4) Research has an often overlooked function, that is, of forecasting the future. Research which is too oriented to past disasters may not have much value for application to future disasters. (5) There often is an inherent and built-in divergence of goals and interests, or gaps, between researchers and research users. The difference not only has to be recognized as a legitimate one, but it implies the need for the development of a professional social role that will bridge the gap.