Two researchers at Drexel University will collaborate on a new study to investigate issues related to trust in emergency warning systems by studying recent fire alarm incidents in public housing. Dr. Jennifer Taylor, a professor and safety science expert at the School of Public Health, and Dr. Lisl Zach, a professor at Drexel University's College of Information Science and Technology, will lead the study.
According to the researchers, a young mother of two died and 16 people were injured earlier this year during a fire at a Philadelphia high-rise. Reports found that many residents did not appropriately respond to the fire alarms because "they’ve been going off so much."
"The literature on risk communication is full of examples of people ignoring warnings, even when educated in advance about their importance. Research in public safety education [also] tells us that even when educated about the potential dangers of an activity or environment, people often remain at risk," said Taylor.
As an example, the researchers said that driver’s education programs have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of teenage motor vehicle crashes because teenagers who successfully pass the curriculum are allowed to drive sooner than counterparts who did not successfully pass. While these students show competency and assimilation of safety knowledge, this has not translated into safe driving behavior.
The pilot study will use surveys and focus groups to identify patterns of perceptions and attitudes towards the fire alarms in the building. Based on the data, the team will develop a preliminary model describing the factors that influence trust in emergency warning systems in a public housing environment. The study will occur during the summer and fall 2009.
The study is supported by a grant from the Drexel Engineering Cities Initiative (DECI), which is an innovative new approach to studying urban systems. DECI focuses on the engineering of cities, policy development, and the creation of environmentally sustainable urban habitats that function for people and society.
Dr. Taylor has been trained in the field of injury prevention and control and uses its principles to address safety and quality issues in healthcare and occupational settings. She is currently conducting analysis on early-warning error systems within the fire service to prevent firefighter injuries and line of duty deaths. Her other research focuses on patient safety surveillance and the relationship between organizational safety culture and injuries. Dr. Taylor received her PhD from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and MPH degree from the Boston University School of Public Health.
Dr. Zach's primary research interests focus on the information-seeking behavior of decision makers and ways of identifying and preserving critical knowledge-based assets within organizations. Before embarking on an academic career, Dr. Zach spent almost 20 years working in various areas of administration and financial management. Dr. Zach is also the Principal Investigator on an IMLS grant to study information professionals’ responses to crisis situations, such as the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes. Dr. Zach earned her PhD from the University of Maryland, MBA from the New York University and MSLS from The University of North Carolina.