Research Methods for Studying Mental Health after Disasters and Terrorism:
Community and Public Health Approaches
Fran Norris, Sandro Galea, Matthew Friedman, Patricia Watson (Eds.)

The purpose of the book is to educate the reader about research methods and strategies that can be used to study (a) the effects of disasters on mental health and related constructs or (b) the effectiveness of interventions undertaken to prevent or reduce disaster-related mental health problems. The book focuses on research that is conducted in community settings using a public health approach. The book is oriented to novice disaster researchers in the fields of psychology, public health, and related disciplines.

Although the text assumes that the reader has had some prior graduate or professional level training, it does not assume that the reader is an experienced researcher. The text emphasizes the practical and logistical challenges of conducting disaster research as well as methodological and scientific issues. In all chapters, the authors (who are all experienced disaster researchers) identify the shortcomings and pitfalls of the particular approach they are describing and provide a good example or two of a study that used the approach successfully.

Part I : Introduction to the Field

Part I provides an introduction to the field. It begins with an overview of definitions, conceptualizations, and epidemiology of disasters and trends in the field. Other chapters present summaries of the empirical research conducted to date on the psychosocial consequences of disasters and evidence-based treatments for trauma-related psychological problems. The purpose is to give the reader a broad introduction to the literature in the field to set the stage for Part II, especially idea generation.

Part II : Research Fundamentals

Part II teaches the fundamentals of conducting disaster research, beginning with choosing good questions, exploring the literature, and selecting research methods and strategies (i.e., those discussed in Part III) that best answer those questions. The text does not identify or recommend specific measures because other books on trauma assessment are available and the list of potential constructs that could be studied after disasters is great. However, the book will address factors that influence investigators’ choices of different measurement strategies. The next chapter provides an understanding of ethical issues and risks and benefits to the participant. This knowledge is essential for any researcher working in this field.

Part III : Methods for Sampling and Data Collection

Part III describes the specific methods and approaches used in the field. The first chapter is on surveillance and monitoring as a general public health strategy for assessing mental health and other needs in the community. This is followed by chapters that teach the specifics of how to do telephone surveys, in-home surveys, school-based research, psychiatric epidemiology, community-based treatment studies, and mental health services or evaluation research. A final chapter discusses how qualitative approaches can be done to provide deep description of a community’s postdisaster functioning.

Part IV : Research for Planning, Policy, and Service Delivery

Part IV describes special challenges in disaster research. These challenges apply across the designs and modalities discussed in Part III. Based on their own experience, authors give advice about conducting research on or with children and families, minority populations, other countries, and military or uniformed services populations.

Part V : Special Challenges in Disaster Research

Part VIII summarizes the volume and makes recommendations for the future. It achieves this objective creatively through a hypothetical scenario that creates challenges and opportunities for research.

Table of Contents