Community Literacy Journal Apr 2010 Open Access

Disaster Preparedness Information Needs of Individuals Attending an Adult Literacy Center : An Exploratory Study

Daniela B. Friedman University of South Carolina ; Manju Tanwar University of South Carolina ; Jane Richter University of South Carolina ; Deborah Yoho

Abstract

Being prepared with accurate, credible, and timely information during a disaster can help individuals make informed decisions about taking appropriate actions. Unfortunately, many people have difficulty understanding health and risk-related resources. This exploratory, mixed methods study assessed disaster information-seeking behaviors and comprehension of public health disaster preparedness resources by individuals at an adult literacy center. A convenience pilot sample of 20 adult learners (mean age: 53.1) was recruited. Health literacy was assessed using Newest Vital Sign (NVS) and modified Cloze (multiple choice) tests on biological terrorism and avian influenza information. In-person interviews were conducted to determine participants’ knowledge, perceptions, and information needs about disasters. Thematic analysis of interviews was conducted using NVivo7. Mean NVS was 3.11/6.00 implying limited health literacy. Mean Cloze scores revealed marginal disaster comprehension (avian flu: .46/1.00; biological terrorism: .48/1.00). Over half of participants with inadequate Cloze comprehension self-rated their understanding as “good.” Key themes emerging from interviews were: multiple perceptions about disasters, limited access to preparedness resources, need for visuals and plain language information, and importance of knowing where to go during a disaster. Study findings advocate for multimedia, plain language, and visual communication to influence adult learners’ literacy practices and self-efficacy in interpreting instructions and acting appropriately in preparing for and responding to disasters.

Journal
Community Literacy Journal
Published
2010-04-01
DOI
10.25148/clj.4.2.009442
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
OA PDF Gold
Topics
empirical research qualitative research multimodality literacy studies community literacy
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (0)

No articles in this index cite this work.

References (0)

No references on file for this article.

CrossRef global citation count: 3 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Computers and Composition Mar 2021
    Crossover literacies: A study of seventh graders’ multimodal representations in texts about Pokémon Go ↗
    Elin Strømman
    qualitative research multimodality literacy studies community literacy
  2. College Composition and Communication Sep 2017
    Pretty Bullets: Tracing Transmedia/Translingual Literacies of an Israeli Soldier across Regimes of Practice ↗
    Steven Fraiberg
    qualitative research multimodality translingualism literacy studies community literacy
  3. Technical Communication Quarterly Jan 2013
    Reassembling Technical Communication: A Framework for Studying Multilingual and Multimodal Practices in Global Contexts ↗
    Steven Fraiberg
    technical communication qualitative research multimodality literacy studies community literacy
  4. Community Literacy Journal Apr 2009
    Training Within Industry as Short-Sighted Community Literacyappropriate Training Program: A Case Study of Worker- Centered Training and Its Implications ↗
    Dirk Remley
    discourse analysis qualitative research multimodality literacy studies community literacy
  5. Written Communication Jan 2008
    Staying in the (Curricular) Lines: Practice Constraints and Possibilities in Childhood Writing ↗
    Anne Haas Dyson
    qualitative research multimodality literacy studies race and writing community literacy