1. Research Process

A commonly cited method of data collection defined to aid cause and effect explanation is experimentation. This involves manipulating an independent variable to see what effect it has on a dependent variable, under controlled conditions. Often it will involve comparison between an experimental group and a control group. While this method is logical and effective in giving evidence to support or refute a theory, it is seldom practical in emergency management research given its intrinsic field, governmental, and multi-organizational/multinational nature. Given the constraints of emergency management field research, alternative methods of data collection and testing theory are often sought.

In most areas of research, the knowledge evident from the data will be in the form of a theory. For social and behavioral science, this is usually formulated in terms of the causal relationship between variables. So the point in collecting data is to test this theory. Data on all variables in the theory is required for effective testing, and one must be able to operationalize these variables. This means defining the variable so that it can be measured empirically, and then linking this definition to a specific instrument of data collection.

At the heart of the scientific method is empirical investigation. This involves gathering data, acquiring information on the phenomenon being studied in order to answer the question posed. The concept of empiricism is simple, but what constitutes valid data is less obvious. Primarily, it must address the question being asked, and it is this understanding that distinguishes between good and bad research in terms of checking variables measured. It then must be reliable, so that we can be sure that the data represents what is actually being studied. Finally, when we talk of research that tests the validity of a phenomenon, the data must be able to show that one thing causes another, or conversely, that it doesn’t. This is known as the four criteria for establishing a causal relationship (Babbie, 1992).

Gathering Data Data collection is the crucial first step of the research process. It is an element common to all research paradigms, whether qualitative or quantitative, and in most cases taking the form of some kind of systematic observation, or employing a record of pertinent information for subsequent analysis. However, the type and source of the data will vary according to the particular methods one employs.

1.1. Gathering Data

Most researchers think of data collection as the point in the research process at which the rubber meets the road. Here (they believe) is where we really get down to business, a point where a research project finally stops being all talk… and begins to take on a concrete reality. At that stage, we test the theories that we have developed over the years and begin to build a body of new and useful sociological knowledge. This is called the empiricist theory of knowledge, which was a view that was widely shared among hard-headed, pragmatic social researchers through a substantial portion of the 20th century. From this perspective, data collection is the kernel of the research enterprise, the alpha and the omega of it. The quality of the data collection is a determining factor in the difference between good and bad research. Data collection should set a standard for the rest of the research project. And it is not really good research unless it has some aspects that are on a collision course with a dominant conventional wisdom, presenting alternative data analysis and interpretation that the researcher believes will be able to make good on its counterculture promise and find out that there is enough evidence to actually address the challenge.

A research is a way of gaining information and answering some questions that everyone requires. Basically, it is a systematic and intensive study directed towards a more complete knowledge of the subject studied. The research process involves many methods in order to establish good research, and one of the methods involved in the research process is gathering data. Basically, gathering data is the way to obtain information to answer the question and solve the problem. It involves the use of many methods and various ways depending on the type of research and the subject of the study.

1.2. Applying Methodology

The research described in this essay is mainly taken from peer-reviewed journal articles, with two exceptions: one is a news article, and the other is an article from the FBI. These articles are not peer-reviewed, yet provide proper information from reliable sources. Data was also taken from government websites, all in various levels of the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS). This data is quite useful in the first two levels of our research but will be extremely useful if the threat level is ever raised to the higher levels. This data is especially useful because essentially almost all federally funded emergency management would fall under Homeland Security jurisdiction during the higher threat levels. Data was also taken from the Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) website. EMRI is an agency under the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety and is devoted to improving Oklahoma’s response to any emergency event. This is the primary function of EMRI, and they do their best to gather, store, and organize all data pertinent to emergency response in Oklahoma. They release the data for use by public safety entities and researchers. This data is more difficult to get a hold of but is the most useful data from an Oklahoma-specific standpoint. Step two will also involve gaining information from public safety entities in Oklahoma, particularly in the Tulsa area. Local police and fire departments will have very important information on what the primary emergency threats are to the city, what resources they have to handle such events, what events they have had trouble responding to in the past, and what type of training they have done or plan to do in the future. This will provide good information on what events are most likely in Tulsa and what resources and training material we should produce from our research.

1.3. Drawing Conclusions

At all times during this process, researchers should be on the lookout for any anomalies or unexpected findings. Often, these can be more informative than findings which confirm the research’s original expectations. Consideration should also be given as to how confidence in the findings can be established. With the data being both complex and unstructured, it can be difficult to determine when findings are ‘good enough’, and at times findings will have to be abandoned or re-examined if further data invalidates them.

Making sense of the data that was gathered and transformed is the process of converting information into knowledge. One way of doing this is to examine the data in relation to the original problem or hypothesis, to consider whether the original problems have been resolved or whether the hypothesis is supported. More often than not, however, further analysis is required using what is termed as exploratory or post hoc research. This takes two broad forms: either identifying the relationships between different aspects of the data (which can be either hypothesis testing or variable examination) or looking at the comparisons between the collected data and other similar data (such as benchmarking).

2. Recommendations in Emergency Management

2.1. Improving Theory

2.2. Enhancing Operations