Abstract
Preparedness is a key dependent variable in many studies examining people’s response to disasters such as earthquakes. A feature of many studies on this issue, however, is the lack of attention given to psychometric issues when constructing measures of preparedness. With regard to earthquake preparation, for example, many studies could be greatly improved by the use of a valid and reliable measure of preparedness. This research developed such a measure that assessed both low-level preparedness, such as having an emergency kit, and high-level preparedness, such as altering home structures to mitigate damage. Studies of Wellington (New Zealand) residents using two samples totalling n=652 showed that 23 items measuring these different aspects of earthquake preparation could be combined into a reliable, valid, unifactorial scale. This brief scale should have utility in multivariate studies of earthquake preparation, either as a dependent variable, where preparation is the outcome variable of primary interest, or as one of several independent variables, where preparation and other measures predict another outcome variable.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
J. M. Cortina (1993) ArticleTitleWhat is coefficient alpha? An examination of theory and application J. Appl. Psychol. 78 98–104 Occurrence Handle10.1037/0021-9010.78.1.98
A. Man ParticleDe P. Simpson-Housley (1987) ArticleTitleFactors in the perception of earthquake hazard Percept. Motor Skills 64 815–820
D. Dooley R. Catalano S. Mishra S. Serxner (1992) ArticleTitleEarthquake preparedness: predictors in a community survey J. Appl. Social Psychol. 22 451–470
M. E. Edwards (1993) ArticleTitleSocial location and self-protective behavior: implications for earthquake preparedness Int. J. Mass Emergencies Disasters 11 293–303
J. E. Farley H. D. Barlow M. S. Finklestein L. Riley (1993) ArticleTitleEarthquake hysteria, before and after: a survey and follow-up on public response to the Browning forecast Int. J. Mass Emergencies Disasters 11 305–322
J. Hattie (1985) ArticleTitleMethodology review: assessing unidimensionality of tests and items Appl. Psychol. Meas. 9 139–164
H. Hirose (1986) ArticleTitleThe psychological impact of the Tokai earthquake prediction: individual’s responses and the mass media coverage Jpn. Psychol. Res. 26 64–76
H. Hirose T. Ishizuka (1983) ArticleTitleCausal analysis of earthquake concern and preparing behavior in the North Izu Peninsula Jpn. Psychol. Res. 25 103–111
F. R. Hurnen (1997) Perceived Damage Preventability, Knowledge, and Preparation for Earthquakes Victoria University of Wellington Wellington
Hurnen, F. R. and McClure, J.: 1997, The effect of increased earthquake knowledge on perceived preventability of earthquake damage. Aust. J. Disaster Trauma Stud. 1, Massey University, New Zealand, http://www.massey.ac.nz/-trauma
E. L. Jackson (1981) ArticleTitleResponse to earthquake hazard: the West Coast of North America Environ. Behav. 14 387–416
E. L. Jackson T. Mukerjee (1974) Human adjustment to the earthquake hazard in San Francisco, California G. F. White (Eds) Natural Hazards: Local, National and Global Oxford University Press New York 160–166
J. Jensen M. Spittal S. Crichton S. Sathyandra V. Krishnan (2002) The Direct Measurement of Living Standards: The New Zealand ELSI Scale Ministry of Social Development Wellington
K. J. Kiecolt J. M. Nigg (1982) ArticleTitleMobility and perceptions of a hazardous environment Environ. Behav. 14 131–154
J. M. Kishton K. F. Widaman (1994) ArticleTitleUnidimensional versus domain representative parceling of questionnaire items: an empirical example Educ. Psychol. Meas. 54 757–765
M. K. Lindell R. W. Perry (2000) ArticleTitleHousehold adjustment to earthquake hazard: a review of research Environ. Behav. 32 461–501 Occurrence Handle10.1177/00139160021972621
J. McClure F. Walkey M. Allen (1999) ArticleTitleWhen earthquake damage is seen as preventable: attributions, locus of control and attitudes to risk Appl. Psychol. Int. Rev. 48 239–256 Occurrence Handle10.1080/026999499377637
McGeary, J.: August 30, 1999, Buried alive, Time 16–21
D. Mileti J. D. Darlington (1997) ArticleTitleThe role of searching in shaping reactions to earthquake risk information Soc. Probl. 44 89–103
D. Mileti C. Fitzpatrick (1992) ArticleTitleThe causal sequence of risk communication in the Parkfield earthquake prediction experiment Risk Anal. 12 393–400 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1539-6924.1992.tb00691.x
Mileti, D., Fitzpatrick, C.: 1993, The great earthquake experiment: Risk communication and public action. Boulder, CO: Westview
D. Mileti P. W. O’Brien (1992) ArticleTitleWarnings during disasters: normalizing communicating risk Soc. Probl. 38 40–57
J. P. Mulilis R. Lippa (1990) ArticleTitleBehavioral change in earthquake preparedness due to negative threat appeals: a test of protection motivation theory J. Appl. Soc. Psychol. 20 619–638
J. P. Mulilis T. S. Duval K. Bovalino (2000) ArticleTitleTornado preparedness of students, non-student renters, and non-student owners: issues of PrE theory J. Appl. Soc. Psychol. 30 1310–1329
J. P. Mulilis T. S. Duval R. Lippa (1990) ArticleTitleThe effects of a large destructive local earthquake on earthquake preparedness as assessed by the Earthquake Preparedness Scale Nat. Hazards 3 357–371 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00124393
L. A. Russell J. D. Goltz L. B. Bourque (1995) ArticleTitlePreparedness and hazard mitigation actions before and after two earthquakes Environ. Behav. 27 744–770
N. Schmitt (1996) ArticleTitleUses and abuses of coefficient alpha Psychol. Assess. 8 350–353 Occurrence Handle10.1037/1040-3590.8.4.350
P. S. Showalter (1993) ArticleTitlePrognostication of doom: an earthquake prediction’s effect on four small communities Int. J. Mass Emergencies Disasters 11 279–292
R. Sullivan D. A. Mustart J. S. Galehouse (1977) ArticleTitleLiving in earthquake country Calif. Geol. 3 3–8
R. H. Turner J. M. Nigg D. H. Paz (1986) Waiting for Disaster: Earthquake Watch in California University of California Press Los Angeles
N. Weinstein J. E. Lyon A. J. Rothman C. L. Cuite (2000) ArticleTitlePreoccupation and affect as predictors of protective action following natural disaster Brit. J. Health Psychol. 5 351–363 Occurrence Handle10.1348/135910700168973
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Spittal, M.J., Walkey, F.H., McClure, J. et al. The Earthquake Readiness Scale: The Development of a Valid and Reliable Unifactorial Measure. Nat Hazards 39, 15–29 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-005-2369-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-005-2369-9