Meta-analytical approach to questionnaires on disaster damage reduction

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to provide a long-term, holistic view of disaster damage reduction research, which has been lacking, and offer a new perspective on questionnaire methods, based on a meta-level perspective on existing research. In particular, we pointed out that new insights may be gained not only from the results obtained from a single questionnaire, but also from a comprehensive view of the methods and results of multiple pieces of research. Specifically, we first discussed the importance of “benchmarking” and “baselines” for interpreting data obtained from questionnaires, focusing on the specific topic of household disaster preparedness in Japanese society. Secondly, taking up the phrase “self-help, mutual help, and public help”, we argued that in order to fully grasp the conflicts and contradictions surrounding this phrase, one needs to focus on the format of a questionnaire (the way the questions are asked) rather than the results it produces. It is also important to link questionnaire findings obtained through “averaging”, with those obtained through “limiting”, in order to comprehensively understand questionnaire results.