The previous sections highlighted the importance of developing cultural awareness and attaining a greater cultural knowledge of the communities researchers work in. You also got to reflect on approaches researchers including you can take to acquire this knowledge. 

This section helps you think about how you can use cultural knowledge to practice cultural sensitivity when carrying out hazards and disaster research. There are many actions researchers can take to practice cultural sensitivity, and by doing so fostering trust, empathy and acceptance with their research participants and the greater communities they work in. Let's take a look at an example.

Student drawing of an earthquake (Image Credit: Solmaz Mohadjer, used with permission)

The above drawing shows a student's perception of earthquakes. In 2008, a group of scientists studying earthquakes in Tajikistan carried out interviews with local school children to learn about their the levels of earthquake knowledge and attitudes. The aim was to understand students’ perceptions of earthquakes and identify factors that may influence their level of earthquake preparedness, response and recovery. This information was needed to help education experts and scientists produce effective educational materials for schools. 

The above drawing depicts a story mentioned by several students when asked about the causes of earthquakes. The story details are captured in a video excerpt from the documentary Between Bulls and Mosquitoes. 

Click Next Page to watch the video and answer a few questions.