While the activity discussed in the previous section (i.e., assessing students' earthquake perception) is not part of natural hazard science training, the outcomes of such study can help hazard scientists with understanding the culture of the community they work within. Here are a few examples of how such outcomes can enhance the work of natural hazard researchers: 

• Enriching data. Stories passed down from one generation to another may be a significant record of information and help to enrich data collected using traditional fieldwork and in locations where written and instrumental records are minimal (Cronin and Cashman, 2008). Understanding culture is critical to identifying how information is better captured and communicated in any given location.

• Contextual understanding. Understanding cultural beliefs, practices, and rituals can help researchers to be sensitive to the associations people have with natural hazards and unsafe areas as well as understand their coping capacities and resilience of communities living in hazardous areas.  

• Improving research dissemination. Dissemination should be done in a way that is acceptable and understandable to stakeholders. Understanding culture can help to guide decisions about the appropriate nature of research outputs (e.g., storytelling, radio shows, briefing notes, films, theatre) and who is best placed to share these.