Chapter 2 Research Methodology 2.1 Objectives of the Study 1) To understand the general and financial impacts of both manmade as well as natural disasters. 2) To analyze the financial implications caused by the impact of disasters 3) To highlight the importance of management of post disaster financial crisis at national level. 4) To evaluate the financial reforms/measures currently present in India for disaster management. 5) To study the role of Government in Disaster Management 6) To study the role of Corporate Sector and NGOs in Disaster Management 7) To understand financial aspects of preparedness and prevention before the disaster occurrence as compared to the costs of rehabilitation after disaster 8) To study/suggest measures for a proactive and holistic approach of Government, NGOS, corporate sector, other organizations and individuals to avoid wastages and losses and to achieve effective management of disasters. 2.2 Hypothesis 1) Financial losses due to disasters are not rising. 2) There is no significant difference in the proportion of people who were of the opinion that natural disasters cause more financial losses and who were of the opinion that manmade disasters cause more financial losses. 3) The disaster occurred in one country does not affect the economy of other country. 4) Preparedness and prevention before the disaster occurrence will not keep the disaster related costs at the minimum as compared to the rehabilitation after disaster. 5) The government should not invest more funds in tools / equipments / technology for prediction of disasters (e.g. earthquake predicting instruments) as well as to minimize the impact of disasters.
6) There is no need to have an effective Information System to assess economic loss caused due to disaster in any area. 2.3 Research Methodology Since the disaster management is the call of today and its various aspects are emerging as a fast growing area of research due to their financial implications, there is no dearth of published and unpublished literature on Disaster Management. The literature available have been reviewed and used for the purpose of conceptual framework. Primary as well as secondary data has been collected for the purpose of this study and used in drawing conclusions. The overall research methodology adopted in this research will be discussed under the following sub heads: Research Design The research design is a detailed plan of action for research. It constitutes the blue print for collection, measurement, tabulation and analysis of the data. Historical research turns history or the past to study the patterns, their impact on the present, evolutionary process and so on. In this sense, this research can be termed as a historical research as it is inclined towards the identification and description of various causes of disasters and their financial implications. It has also considered financial implications under various phases of disaster management cycle which incorporates a descriptive research design because this is an area of descriptive study in the field of Disaster Management. Research Instrument This research is based on both types of data i.e. Primary and secondary. The survey method was used to collect data. The present study has made extensive use of primary data gathered with the help of well structured questionnaire. The questionnaire includes information on different aspects of research problem. The secondary data has been collected from various sources such as books, journals and websites.
Research Area The study is based on the financial implications of the management of natural as well as manmade disasters and it was decided to carry it out with focus on disasters in India. The occurrence of disasters and their implications in other parts of the world have been studied to understand and learn the different initiatives taken in the past and needed in the future in this field in India. 2.4 Data Collection Primary Data This study has dealt with the opinion of citizens in respect of the financial impacts of the disasters and the measures/ reforms required for keeping the financial wastages/ losses at the minimum. This process was useful in the specification of a holistic and proactive approach for effective management of financial crisis caused due to disasters. In order to study the financial impacts due to disasters and to emphasise the necessity for disaster management, the research includes primary data collection through a structured questionnaire. Secondary Data It includes collection through news paper articles, magazines, books, journals, research reports and web sites etc. Sampling plan For the purpose of this study, a random sample from the city of Mumbai and Pune consisting of citizens from different age groups and different occupations has been considered. The sample consists of respondents related to the disaster management activity as well as others who are not directly related with disaster management initiatives, in order to understand both the perspectives. The purposive technique was used to collect data. A sample of 50 respondents was selected by the researcher as per convenience.
Contact Method In most cases questionnaires were filled through personal visits. In some cases, the questionnaires were mailed electronically to the respondents and reminders as well as telephonic requests were made. Analysis of Data The data so collected via primary resource contains both quantitative and qualitative information. The classification, tabulations & graphical presentations have been used to arrange the raw data in an understandable form. The classified and tabulated data have been analysed by using statistical tool and techniques like Mean, Mode and percentage etc. Z test was also used as the sample size is large.
2.5 Chapter Scheme Chapter No. Name of Chapter Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Introduction Research Methodology Review of Literature General and Financial Impacts of Disasters (Analysis of Data) Financial Implications of Disasters (Analysis of Data) Financial implications of Disasters and Role of Government (Analysis of Data) Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Existing Financial Measures for Disaster Management Role of Corporate Sector and NGOs (Analysis of Data) A Holistic and Proactive Approach for Effective Management of Financial Crisis Chapter 10 Conclusions and Suggestions Bibliography Annexures