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The Role of Technology in Enhancing Disaster Response and Recovery

Michael Holmes

University of Arizona Global Campus

SOC 333 Research Methods

Ashraf Esmail

6 July 2024

The Role of Technology in Enhancing Disaster Response and Recovery

Disaster response and recovery involving the application of advanced technology is a relatively new area of research with high potential to improve disaster response operations. This research proposal aims at examining the ways in which technologies like drones and artificial intelligence could enhance disaster management. This topic is important in both homeland security and emergency management since disaster response is a crucial aspect that can prevent loss of lives, goods, and property and increase the community’s ability to cope with disasters. The target population for this research therefore comprises emergency management agencies, first responders, and those affected by disasters in disaster-prone areas. This group is most suitable as they are the actual players in disaster response and recovery processes. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of the purpose of technology and to find out the practical uses and advantages that can be used to enhance existing practices. The aim of this study is to determine how appropriate and effective advanced technologies such as drones and AI are in disaster management and the challenges faced when using them.

Worldview

Constructivism incorporates the notion that learning happens through a person’s experiences and the interactions they have with other people (Tembo & Akintola, 2022). A worldview, in this case, can be understood in terms of how disaster response and management are imagined and enacted by key players in relation to technology. This approach will help when considering the qualitative data and technology used by emergency responders in their duties.

In positivism and post-positivism, there is a strong belief in objective reality and the use of the scientific method in uncovering the truth. Such an approach is helpful in assessing the outcome of technological solutions in disaster management, with more focus on quantitative factors such as response time and recovery rate, as highlighted by Jackson and Dolan (2021). This could lead to the formation of hypotheses that can be tested in an empirical manner and may therefore be considered more reliable.

Thus, while pragmatism focuses on the method of applying the concept to solve real-life problems, this approach entails the use of the proposed technology in disaster response to ensure that the findings are relevant and useful to organizations responsible for disaster management (Tembo & Akintola, 2022). However, the pragmatism perspective supports the use of various approaches and assumptions when it comes to dealing with real-life issues.

Selanon et al. (2024) defined advocacy/participatory research as a type of research that involves participants in the study process and often addresses the issue of social justice. It is appropriate to use it when assessing the perceptions of the target users about the use of the technology regarding the disaster response system. It promotes the involvement of stakeholders and supports their activities in the course of the research.

The most suitable paradigms for this research are pragmatism and positivism/post-positivism. Pragmatism, on the other hand, ensures that the study is applicable to the field of disaster management. On the other hand, positivism and post-positivism provide a systematic method of assessing the impact of technology using quantitative data, as highlighted by Tembo and Akintola (2022). This way, the researcher is able to get a feel for how the research question is applied in a real-life scenario as well as the theoretical part.

Conclusion

The use of ICT in the management of disasters and disaster responses is a matter of concern because disasters are on the rise and are becoming more destructive. This research will provide information on how the new technologies in the field of disaster management, including drones and artificial intelligence, can be helpful in improving the process. Hence, from this assignment, I have learned that it is crucial to consider the kind of research question being asked and the type of research being developed when choosing the appropriate approach. The integration of pragmatism and positivism/post-positivism will help to achieve a synthesis of the two approaches, and thus, the research findings will be both utilitarian and empirically sound.

References

Jackson, P. T., & Dolan, L. (2021). Positivism, post-positivism, and social science.
Research Methods in the Social Sciences: an AZ of Key Concepts, 214.
https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=G8oQEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA214&dq=Positivism/Post-Positivism+focuses+on+objective+measurement+and+quantification+of+phenomena.&ots=Ui-m__QKQI&sig=ZPa5Df4H6etdG4wkoVLQ1zMkLVM&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

Selanon, P., Puggioni, F., & Dejnirattisai, S. (2024). An Inclusive Park Design Based on a Research Process: A Case Study of Thammasat Water Sport Center, Pathum Thani, Thailand.
Buildings, 14(6), 1669.
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/6/1669

Tembo, C. K., & Akintola, A. (2022). A retrospection of methodological pluralism in the journal of financial management of property and construction (2005-2020).
Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, 27(3), 348-364.
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JFMPC-11-2020-0074/full/html