Disaster and Emergency Management Methods

Jason D. Rivera is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at SUNY Buffalo State. He has completed research on all phases of disaster and emergency management using a broad range of methodological approaches and designs as a means of focusing on individual decision-making and behavior. Rivera is also interested in issues related to social equity, governance, and organizational structures, and epistemology. Prior to his arrival at SUNY Buffalo State, Rivera earned his PhD at Rutgers University - Camden in public affairs and worked as a research associate at two different academic institutions - the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University and the Liberal Arts and Science Institute for Research and Community Service at Rowan University.

• Foreword Introduction: Engaging in Research within the Disaster and Emergency Management Contexts Part 1: Preliminary Considerations of Disaster and Emergency Management Research 1. Practical Considerations for Ethical Research in Post-Disaster Communities 2. Sampling in Disaster and Emergency Management Research 3. Disastrous Inferences? The Ecological Fallacy in Disaster and Emergency Management Research 4.Mixed Methods Research in Disaster & Emergency Management 5. Studying Vulnerable Populations in Disaster Part 2: Qualitative and Interpretivist Approaches to Studying Disaster and Emergency Management 6. Interviewing in a Disaster Context 7. Focus Group Research in Disaster and Emergency Management 8. Site Mapping as Participatory Action: A Methodology for Practitioners, Academics, Students, and the Community 9. Language-based Theories and Methods in Emergency and Disaster Management 10. Ethnography without Experimentation: Ethnographic Methods in Post-Disaster Contexts 11. Observation Research in Emergency and Disaster Management 12. Secondary Data and Qualitative Content Analysis in Emergency Management Research Part 3: Quantitative and Policy Approaches to Studying Disaster and Emergency Management 13. Large Secondary Datasets: Imperative for Addressing Global Public Health Disasters 14. A Brief Introduction to Statistical Modeling for Disaster and Emergency Management Research 15. Social Network Analysis for Disaster Management Research 16. Quasi-Experimental Research in the Wild: Walking the Line Between Quantitative and Qualitative 17. Using Historical Institutionalism: FEMA and U.S. Disaster Declarations 18. Mapping Resilience: GIS Techniques for Disaster Studies Conclusion: Understanding Disasters: Questions Should Drive Methods and Other Interdisciplinary Lessons

"Each chapter in this edited volume offers novel insights into the pitfalls, promise, and possibilities of studying disasters. The authors, who write from many disciplinary perspectives, carefully consider a range of ethical and methodological approaches that advance the conduct and rigor of research in this area. This essential work is sure to become required reading for a generation of disaster and emergency management researchers."Lori Peek, Department of Sociology and Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado Boulder"We have seen increased occurrences of disasters and crises during the last decade or so. Hurricanes, earthquakes, riots, terrorism, and COVID-19, of course, are some of the examples of these occurrences. As necessitated by this reality of our time, there is a substantial interest researching emergencies and crises, and identifying effective ways and means in dealing with them and building resilient communities. This volume provides perspectives for novice and experienced researchers alike from interdisciplinary perspectives."Naim Kapucu, Pegasus Professor, School of Public Administration, University of Central Florida (UCF)"Disaster and Emergency Management Methods, edited by Jason Rivera and featuring top researchers, is an important book that addresses a critical gap in the literature. Research should drive decision making. There are, however, few guides for conducting research in disaster scenarios. This book provides critical information to current and future researchers, guiding the conduct of effective data collection. Quality research will produce quality decisions. This book will help us to conduct quality research."William Pelfrey, Professor, program chair - homeland security and emergency preparedness, Virginia Commonwealth University"Dr. Rivera has drawn on his unique background and extensive research experience to put together a must-read methods primer for the field of study. This book offers a thoughtful approach to disaster research, written by experts in each dimension of the field. This book should be required reading in every emergency management program and would make a great addition to any applied policy methods course."Warren S. Eller, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Public Management, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY"Jason Rivera provides a solid text for approaching disaster and emergency management from a social science perspective…I commend the editor and authors of the text for providing a value-added resource for a variety of stakeholders including students and practitioners. I also commend the editor for finding key contributing authors who are women leaders in the disaster and emergency management space. All too often such literature and texts lack gender diversity and key perspectives from women leaders."Jono Anzalone, EdD, Nonprofit Leader and Disaster Expert