Disaster Research

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the history and development of research examining disaster events. The historical review includes discussion of the three core research traditions (disasters, hazards, and risk) and the more recent focus on public administration. A focus on research methods unique to disasters guides a review of the challenges of research in the four phases of disaster. The chapter also examines specific methodological challenges related to disaster field research, including sampling and data collection. The chapter concludes by reviewing issues in the transfer of research findings to emergency management practice and discusses the future of disaster research.