Citation

Sherman-Morris K, Houston JB, Subedi J. Risk Anal. 2018; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

School of Construction, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Society for Risk Analysis, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/risa.13223

PMID

30368854

Abstract

Hazard and disaster research requires a willingness to step outside of traditional disciplinary ontological and epistemological assumptions to both accommodate and integrate different perspectives. Moreover, the complex qualities of hazards and disasters necessitate interdisciplinary approaches to inform theory development that encompasses environmental, human, and infrastructure systems at multiple scales and units of analysis. Unfortunately, truly integrative hazard and disaster theory at a scale broad enough to account for the many systems and processes involved is currently limited. In this article, we argue that robust hazard and disaster theory can only arise from interdisciplinary research and collaboration. We examine challenges to the development of interdisciplinary hazard and disaster theory, and discuss the characteristics of theory necessary for the goal-oriented nature of research aimed at reducing disaster impact.

© 2018 Society for Risk Analysis.

Language: en

Keywords

Historical barriers; macro-level theory; research needs; theoretical approaches