STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS ON FACTORS IN INSTALLING SMOKE ALARMS IN ORDINARY HOUSES

Based on a questionnaire in four cities in Ibaraki prefecture

Abstract

In order to understand structure of factors in installing smoke alarms in ordinary houses, we constructed a structural equation model by simultaneous analysis of several groups to interpret and give consideration. For the analysis we used existing survey data which was obtained on a previous work by a questionnaire on residents in detached and owned houses in Joso city, Moriya city, Kasumigaura city and Ishioka city, Ibaraki prefecture. Investigating signs and values of the path coefficients, we found that features of the models on each city were mostly similar except for the factors of support measures by the municipal authorities. And, the model showed that "fear image of smoke alarms" had the largest influence upon whether the respondents had installed them or not. The result suggest that measures to sweep residents' negative impressions of smoke alarms are more important to promote installing them than uplifting people's fire risk perception and announcing effectiveness of the equipment.