Research on human behaviour during earthquake shaking has identified three main influences of
behaviour: the environment the individual is located immediately before and during the
earthquake, in terms of where the individual is and who the individual is with at the time of the
earthquake; individual characteristics, such as age, gender, previous earthquake experience, and
the intensity and duration of earthquake shaking. However, little research to date has
systematically analysed the immediate observable human responses to earthquake shaking,
mostly due to data constraints and/or ethical considerations. Research on human behaviour
during earthquakes has relied on simulations or post-event, reflective interviews and
questionnaire studies, often performed weeks to months or even years following the event. Such
studies are therefore subject to limitations such as the quality of the participant's memory or
(perceived) realism of a simulation.
The aim of this research was to develop a robust coding scheme to analyse human behaviour
during earthquake shaking using video footage captured during an earthquake event. This will
allow systematic analysis of individuals during real earthquakes using a previously unutilized
data source, thus help develop guidance on appropriate protective actions. The coding scheme
was developed in a two-part process, combining a deductive and inductive approach. Previous
research studies of human behavioral response during earthquake shaking provided the basis for
the coding scheme. This was then iteratively refined by applying the coding scheme to a broad
range of video footage of people exposed to strong shaking during the Canterbury earthquake
sequence. The aim of this was to optimise coding scheme content and application across a broad
range of scenarios, and to increase inter-coder reliability.
The methodology to code data will enhance objective observation of video footage to allow
cross-event analysis and explore (among others): reaction time, patterns of behaviour, and social,
environmental and situational influences of behaviour. This can provide guidance for building
configuration and design, and evidence-based recommendations for public education about
injury-preventing behavioural responses during earthquake shaking.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:canterbury.ac.nz/oai:ir.canterbury.ac.nz:10092/9431 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Lambie, Emily Susan |
| Publisher | University of Canterbury. Geological Sciences |
| Source Sets | University of Canterbury |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic thesis or dissertation, Text |
| Rights | Copyright Emily Susan Lambie, http://library.canterbury.ac.nz/thesis/etheses_copyright.shtml |
| Relation | NZCU |
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