Communication Factors Influencing Flood-Risk-Mitigation Motivation and Intention among College Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-135
Author(s):  
Adam M. Rainear ◽  
Carolyn A. Lin
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Flood Risk ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Response Efficacy ◽  
Source Trust ◽  
Efficacy Factors

AbstractWhen attempting to communicate flood risk, trust in and perceptions toward risk information dissemination as well as individual efficacy factors can play a significant role in affecting risk-mitigation motivation and intention. This study seeks to examine how risk communication, risk perception, and efficacy factors affect evacuation motivation and behavioral intentions in response to a presumed flood risk, as based on a conceptual framework guided by protection motivation theory. An online survey was administered to college students (N = 239) from a region that is subject to sea level rise and storm surges. Path analysis results indicate that, while less information-source trust predicts greater risk perception, greater information-source trust predicts greater mitigation-information-seeking intention, lower self-efficacy, and stronger response efficacy. As lower mitigation-information-seeking intention similarly predicts greater risk perception, greater mitigation-information-seeking intention also predicts stronger response efficacy. Significant predictors of evacuation motivation include lower risk perception as well as greater information-source trust, severity perception, and response efficacy. Implications of these findings are discussed in terms of information dissemination channels, messaging strategies, and recent severe flooding events.

scholarly journals ELECTION INFORMATION CAMPAIGN AND THE PERCEPTION OF CAMPAIGN PROPS IN THE BEGINNER ELECTION

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Harisman Harisman ◽  
Guntur Freddy Prisanto ◽  
Niken Febrina Ernungtyas
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Information Source ◽  
General Election ◽  
Data Collection Technique ◽  
Search For Information ◽  
First Time ◽  
Massive Information

The 2019 simultaneous general election formed discourse in society with massive information seeking, rapid information dissemination and discussions related to the general election. Before the election starts, every candidate has the opportunity to campaign. The campaign is an opportunity that is always given to pairs of presidential and legislative candidates. This study aims to describe the search for information about elections by first-time voters and their perceptions regarding campaign props. This study uses a qualitative approach using a case study strategy. The data collection technique used in-depth interviews with four first-time voters who live in Depok, West Java. Based on the results of coding and thematic analysis that has been carried out, there are four main themes that have emerged regarding the search for election information among first-time voters. The four main themes are political engagement, banners as campaign props, social media and information seeking. This study concludes that early voters use social media and campaign props as information source for the election decision.

scholarly journals Public information seeking, place-based risk messaging and wildfire preparedness in southern California

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Lise K. Velez ◽  
John M. Diaz ◽  
Tamara U. Wall
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Southern California ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Communication Model ◽  
Daily News ◽  
Challenging Environment ◽  
Threat Index

Southern California is a challenging environment for managing and adapting to wildland–urban interface fires. Previous research shows risk perception and information seeking are related and that public information dissemination influences locally specific risk perception and preparedness actions. Here, we examine relationships between residents’ wildfire knowledge and experience, readiness actions and media choice to determine how to integrate preparedness information and the recently developed Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index into public information. Based on frequencies, means tests and correlations, we find television most frequently used for both daily news and wildfire information and that most people intend to seek information from the same sources in future fires. Wildfire knowledge, experience and past preparedness actions influence the number of sources from which respondents report seeking information. We note significant geographic differences in information sources used before and during wildfire, with higher percentages of residents in more rural areas relying on television, radio, Reverse 911, and friends and family for information during a wildfire. Findings support previous research results indicating sources considered trustworthy are not always considered the most up-to-date. Our findings support other empirical research recommending a multimedia, two-way communication model for event-based and readiness information supplemented with one-way sources like television.

scholarly journals Understanding the Barriers and Facilitators of Lidar Adoption for Flood Risk Management in the Pacific Northwest, U.S.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara Pozzi
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Peer Influence ◽  
Flood Risk ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
White Paper ◽  
Story Map ◽  
Facilitators And Barriers

The understanding of factors that influence technology adoption in emergency planners is foundational for ensuring resilient communities to hazards in the future. We explore these factors through an interdisciplinary, social-ecological science lens. In this thesis, we use cultural evolutionary theory to understand the facilitators and barriers of Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) adoption in flood risk management, as a case study of technology adoption for long-term risk mitigation. We then disseminate our findings through three educational outlets: a webinar, a white paper (Appendix A), and a Story Map. This thesis contributes to our intellectual understanding of technology adoption, as well as provides information to minimize barriers to lidar uptake in Idaho. In the first chapter of the thesis, we used a mixed-methods empirical study to measure the facilitators of lidar adoption as a risk mitigation tactic in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Previous studies disproportionately focused on individual predictors of risk mitigation behavior such as risk perception, without identifying the contextual and collective drivers of risk mitigation behavior. We address this gap by examining both the individual (e.g., direct experience, risk-taking attitude, risk perception) and collective predictors (e.g., peer influence, network expertise) of lidar adoption regionally. We found that peer influence, or the proportion of lidar users in a respondent’s social network, network strength, network expertise, and risk perception significantly increase the likelihood of an individual to adopt lidar. The findings of this chapter contribute tounderstanding the role of collective predictors in long-term risk mitigation behavior and provide a foundational basis for future disaster research. In the second chapter of the thesis, we developed three educational outreach products with varying audience and intention in mind. These products addressed barriers identified in our semi-structured interviews and survey instrument from our mixed-methods empirical study discussed in Chapter One. The first product was a webinar that was attended by 65 flood risk managers and included a panel of cross-sector participants. The second product was a white paper, intended for the Idaho Geospatial Council-Executive Committee and Elevation Technical Working Group. With input from these groups, the product will eventually be used to ask for a lidar liaison position and lidar acquisition budget for Idaho. The Story Map accompanies the white paper and provides detailed account of various lidar applications throughout Idaho. The Story Map showcases content from 10 different lidar stakeholders. Both the white paper and Story Map exist in digital formats that are easily shareable and are considered living documents that can be updated as needed. The overarching goal of this thesis was to understand the facilitators and barriers of lidar adoption and increase uptake of lidar adoption in Idaho. Chapter One focuses on intellectual scholarship and is formatted as a manuscript for publication in the Climate Risk Management journal. Chapter Two focuses on applied scholarship with the greater lidar community. Appendix A is the white paper, Appendix B is a copy of the semi-structured interview instrument, and Appendix C is a copy of the survey instrument. Reference sections follow each chapter individually. This project was funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Grant No. EMS-2019-CA-00030

Impact of the Media and the Internet on Oncology: Survey of Cancer Patients and Oncologists in Canada

2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (23) ◽  
pp. 4291-4297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueyu Chen ◽  
Lillian L. Siu
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
News Media ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Information Source ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Medical News ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Impact

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of the news media and the Internet as sources of medical information by patients and oncologists in Canada and to investigate the impact on patients’ treatment decisions and the patient-doctor relationship. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a 2-week period, 191 ambulatory patients participated in the survey. Questionnaires were also mailed to Canadian oncologists: 410 of 686 questionnaires were returned (response rate = 60%). RESULTS: Of the 191 patients, 86% wanted as much information as possible about their illness, 54% reported receiving insufficient information, 83% cited physicians as their primary information source, and 7% cited the Internet. Seventy-one percent of patients actively searched for information, and 50% used the Internet. Patients’ opinions about the balance, accuracy, and relevance of news media reports were evenly split. English as the first language, access to the Internet, and use of alternative treatments predicted a higher rate of information seeking. Most oncologists routinely pay some attention to medical news and believe that it is difficult for patients to interpret medical information in the media and on the Internet accurately. Both patients and oncologists agree that information seeking does not affect the patient-physician relationship. CONCLUSION: Information searching is common among cancer patients in Canada. It does not affect the patient-doctor relationship. The media and the Internet are powerful means of medical information dissemination. Strategic efforts are needed to improve the quality of medical news reporting by the media, and to provide guidance for patients to understand their disease and interpret such information better.

scholarly journals Online health information-seeking behaviors and skills of Chinese college students

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dangui Zhang ◽  
Weixin Zhan ◽  
Chunwen Zheng ◽  
Jinsheng Zhang ◽  
Anqi Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Chinese College Students ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Bivariate Logistic Regression ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviors

Abstract Background Seeking online health information (OHI) has become a common practice globally. The information seekers could face health risks if they are not proficient in OHI literacy. The OHI-seeking behaviors and skills of Chinese college students, the largest proportion of college students in the world, are understudied. This study was aimed to describe OHI-seeking behaviors and skills of college students in Guangdong, China. Methods College students in the Guangdong province with OHI-seeking experience were invited via WeChat, QQ, and Sina Weibo using QR code posters and flyers for participation in this online anonymized questionnaire-based study. Data on demographics, OHI literacy, information resources, search approaches, and behaviors were collected. The relationship between perceived OHI literacy and high-risk behaviors was investigated by bivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Respondents were 1203 college students with a mean age of 20.6 years, females (60.2%), and undergraduates (97.2%). They sought health information via websites (20.3%), WeChat (2.6%), or both (77.1%). Baidu was the main search engine, and baike.baidu.com (80.3%), Zhihu.com (48.4%), and Zhidao.baidu.com (35.8%) were top three among 20 searched websites for information about self-care (80.7%), general health (79.5%), disease prevention (77.7%), self-medication (61.2%), family treatment (40.9%), drugs (37.7%), western medications (26.6%), hospitals (22.7%), physicians (21.4%), and Traditional Chinese Medicine (15.6%). Despite most respondents (78%) lacked confidence in the evidence quality and satisfaction with the results, only 32.4% further consulted doctors. Many (> 50%) would recommend the retrieved information to others. About 20% experienced hacking/Internet fraud. Cronbach’s alpha for the internal consistency of OHI literacy was 0.786. Bivariate logistic regression analysis showed that students who believed they can judge the evidence level of OHI were more likely to self-diagnose (OR = 2.2, 95%CI, 1.6–3.1) and look for drug usage (OR = 3.1, 95%CI, 1.9–5.0). Conclusions This study reveals Chinese college students’ heavy reliance on OHI to manage their own and others’ health without sufficient knowledge/skills to identify misinformation and disinformation. The apparent risky information-seeking behaviors of Chinese college students warrant the provision of regulated, accurate, and actionable health information; assurance of cybersecurity; and health information literacy promotion in colleges by concerned authorities.

scholarly journals Social Networks, Trust, and Disaster-Risk Perceptions of Rural Residents in a Multi-Disaster Environment: Evidence from Sichuan, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaijing Xue ◽  
Shili Guo ◽  
Yi Liu ◽  
Shaoquan Liu ◽  
Dingde Xu
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Mountainous Areas ◽  
Rural Residents ◽  
Response Efficacy ◽  
The Impact

Individual perception of disaster risk is not only the product of individual factors, but also the product of social interactions. However, few studies have empirically explored the correlations between rural residents’ flat social networks, trust in pyramidal channels, and disaster-risk perceptions. Taking Sichuan Province—a typical disaster-prone province in China—as an example and using data from 327 rural households in mountainous areas threatened by multiple disasters, this paper measured the level of participants’ disaster-risk perception in the four dimensions of possibility, threat, self-efficacy, and response efficacy. Then, the ordinary least squares method was applied to probe the correlations between social networks, trust, and residents’ disaster-risk perception. The results revealed four main findings. (1) Compared with scores relating to comprehensive disaster-risk perception, participants had lower perception scores relating to possibility and threat, and higher perception scores relating to self-efficacy and response efficacy. (2) The carrier characteristics of their social networks significantly affected rural residents’ perceived levels of disaster risk, while the background characteristics did not. (3) Different dimensions of trust had distinct effects on rural residents’ disaster-risk perceptions. (4) Compared with social network variables, trust was more closely related to the perceived level of disaster risks, which was especially reflected in the impact on self-efficacy, response efficacy, and comprehensive perception. The findings of this study deepen understanding of the relationship between social networks, trust, and disaster-risk perceptions of rural residents in mountainous areas threatened by multiple disasters, providing enlightenment for building resilient disaster-prevention systems in the community.

scholarly journals A review of modelling methodologies for flood source area (FSA) identification

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amrie Singh ◽  
David Dawson ◽  
Mark Trigg ◽  
Nigel Wright
Keyword(s):  
Flood Risk ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Source Area ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Weather Patterns ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
Average Annual Loss ◽  
Flood Source ◽  
Modelling Approaches

AbstractFlooding is an important global hazard that causes an average annual loss of over 40 billion USD and affects a population of over 250 million globally. The complex process of flooding depends on spatial and temporal factors such as weather patterns, topography, and geomorphology. In urban environments where the landscape is ever-changing, spatial factors such as ground cover, green spaces, and drainage systems have a significant impact. Understanding source areas that have a major impact on flooding is, therefore, crucial for strategic flood risk management (FRM). Although flood source area (FSA) identification is not a new concept, its application is only recently being applied in flood modelling research. Continuous improvements in the technology and methodology related to flood models have enabled this research to move beyond traditional methods, such that, in recent years, modelling projects have looked beyond affected areas and recognised the need to address flooding at its source, to study its influence on overall flood risk. These modelling approaches are emerging in the field of FRM and propose innovative methodologies for flood risk mitigation and design implementation; however, they are relatively under-examined. In this paper, we present a review of the modelling approaches currently used to identify FSAs, i.e. unit flood response (UFR) and adaptation-driven approaches (ADA). We highlight their potential for use in adaptive decision making and outline the key challenges for the adoption of such approaches in FRM practises.

Assessment of renaturation measures for improvements in ecosystem services and flood risk mitigation

2021 ◽  
Vol 292 ◽  
pp. 112743
Author(s):  
Elisabetta Strazzera ◽  
Rossella Atzori ◽  
Daniela Meleddu ◽  
Vania Statzu
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Flood Risk ◽  
Risk Mitigation
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