Trial by Fire: natural hazards, mixed-methods and cultural research

Eriksen, Christine; Gill, Nick; Bradstock, Ross (2011). Trial by Fire: natural hazards, mixed-methods and cultural research. Australian geographer, 42(1), pp. 19-40. Taylor & Francis 10.1080/00049182.2011.546317

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his paper considers the issues of research ‘relevance’ and ‘use’ to reflect upon a cultural geography research project on bushfire that did not begin with any specific aim of being useful to policy makers but which has garnered considerable and ongoing interest from a broad audience. It provides an example of how the integration of quantitative and qualitative research methods and data can enhance research into cultural aspects of natural hazards whilst simultaneously playing a key role in ensuring that the research results are of interest to a wide range of groups. Using a mixed-methods research approach was found to provide insight into complex factors that influence attitudes and actions towards bushfire amongst diverse landholders in rural–urban interface areas in south-east Australia. We argue that mixed-methods research is a powerful tool in building and enhancing a cultural geography that has policy relevance, retains analytical depth, and is acceptable to risk managers. The ability of cultural geography through mixed-methods research to illuminate how socio-cultural processes are central to environmental attitudes and preparedness behaviour has direct relevance to recent international discussions of how to manage the vulnerability of the growing number of people living in bushfire-prone rural–urban interface areas.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

08 Faculty of Science > Institute of Geography

UniBE Contributor:

Eriksen, Christine

Subjects:

900 History > 910 Geography & travel

ISSN:

0004-9182

Publisher:

Taylor & Francis

Language:

English

Submitter:

Christine Eriksen

Date Deposited:

01 Sep 2023 14:40

Last Modified:

01 Sep 2023 14:40

Publisher DOI:

10.1080/00049182.2011.546317

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/185860

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