Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
in either English or Icelandic. To avoid misinterpretations and miscommunications
translations were conducted during the interview and only one translator was used
during the course of the study. Special and concise training of translators is critical to
ensure that questions are asked exactly as intended and that participant responses are
translated fully and completely (Patton, 1990). Our translator received thorough train-
ing prior to the study.
Face-to-face questionnaire survey interviews were conducted with local residents
in the hazard zone of Rangávallasysla from May to October 2006. Since this was the
fi rst time an evacuation plan had been introduced to these communities and this study
was the fi rst of its kind to be held in this region, face-to-face interviews were deemed
to be the most effective method for data collection. This is because it allows the in-
terviewer to probe for more detailed responses when required as well as providing
clarifi cation if necessary (McGuirk and O'Neill, 2005; Parfi tt, 2005).
Participants were recruited using two non-probability qualitative sampling meth-
ods. Firstly, a purposive sampling technique was used to target residents living within
the hazard zone (i.e. residents registered in each community within the hazard zone
were directly contacted). Purposive sampling is used to deliberately select subjects
who are thought to be relevant to the research topic (Sarantakos, 1998). Secondly,
a snow-ball sampling technique was employed whereby the fi rst recruitment of par-
ticipants suggested other residents who might be available to participate during the
research period (Sarantakos, 1998). Despite apparent biases with both these sampling
techniques, each was deemed appropriate to the study as we were actively seeking
knowledge and perception data from residents from each community in the hazard
zone. Furthermore, it is not our intention to generalize our results from this sample to
the population as a whole, but rather provide a more descriptive preliminary investiga-
tion of public perception in this region.
All residents were initially contacted by telephone and interviews were arranged
at a time convenient to them. Residents over 18 years of age were targeted and all
participants were guaranteed anonymity. Prior to the interview each participant was
informed about the purpose of the questionnaire and the proposed use of the data. They
were also told that they were free to withdraw from the survey at any given time with-
out consequence. Participants were required to sign Human Ethics forms to indicate
that they agreed with the terms of the survey interview.
The questionnaire was divided into three sections. The fi rst section gathered clas-
sifi cation data about the participant. The second section gathered information about
their knowledge and perception of Katla, jökulhlaup hazards, and emergency proce-
dures. While the third section gathered information about their attendance at, and their
perception of, the information meetings on Katla, the evacuation plan and exercise
and their use of hazard information available through various media sources. Each
section contained both open (free answer) and closed (check-list) questions. In total,
the questionnaire contained 52 questions and took approximately 45 min to complete.
However, participants were given as much time as needed to complete the interview.
All data were analyzed within SPSS
®
15.0 (Statistical Package for Social Science) and
Microsoft Word
®
.
