Understanding Information Exchange During Disaster Response: Methodological Insights from Infocentric Analysis
Administration & Society, Vol. 46(6) 707-743, 2014
38 Pages Posted: 29 Jul 2014
Date Written: July 25, 2014
Abstract
We leverage economic theory, network theory, and social network analytical techniques to bring greater conceptual and methodological rigor to understand how information is exchanged during disasters. We ask, “How can information relationships be evaluated more systematically during a disaster response?” “Infocentric analysis” — a term and approach we develop here — can (a) define an information market and information needs, (b) identify suppliers of information and mechanisms for information exchange, (c) map the information exchange network, and (d) diagnose information exchange failures. These steps are essential for describing how information flows, diagnosing complications, and positing solutions to rectify information problems during a disaster.
Keywords: disasters, information, social network analysis, interorganizational coordination communication, exchange markets, infocentric social network analysis, wildfire
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