Disaster Ethnography as a Research Infrastructure: From Fundamental Studies to Social Implementation

Abstract

Large-scale natural disasters are complex social phenomena in which damage patterns and response processes vary depending on social, institutional, and temporal contexts. Conventional disaster research has primarily relied on quantitative approaches that capture conditions at specific points in time, making it difficult to understand the dynamic and procedural nature of disasters. Despite increasing attention to qualitative approaches, a systematic framework for accumulating and using primary experiential data remains underdeveloped. In response to this gap, disaster ethnography has emerged as a methodological approach that documents the experiences, perceptions, and actions of disaster victims and responders through detailed chronological narratives. This study reviews the definition, objectives, and methodological foundations of disaster ethnography and examines its contributions to disaster studies. It highlights key findings from previous studies, including the identification of temporal phases in disaster response and standardization of analytical procedures. Furthermore, the study conceptualizes disaster ethnography not only as a qualitative method, but also as a research infrastructure for preserving and sharing primary data. Moreover, it demonstrates its practical value as a training resource that facilitates the externalization of tacit knowledge and enhances situational awareness and decision-making in disaster risk management. These findings suggest that disaster ethnography provides an integrative framework linking research, practice, and education.

Response phases of victims’ behavior