BRAINSTORMING SESSION: What are the important questions in disaster research, and what methods are needed to answer them?

The types of research methods that are likely to be useful in any field depend on the important research questions in that field. They also depend on the practical limitations that serve as barriers to answering those questions. The purpose of this session is to identify the important questions in the area of disaster research, and the research methods needed to address those questions, taking into account the distinctive features of disasters: chaos; profound need of survivors for immediate help; disruption of infrastructure; and fear of ongoing harm. This session is designed to be a brainstorming session, rather than a formal presentation. In her opening plenary, Dr. Fran Norris articulates a framework for thinking about research methods needed to answer important questions in disaster research. This brainstorming session is designed to complement Dr. Norris's plenary by offering attendees an opportunity to explore these issues in an interactive format.